Aviation System Strained by Government Shutdown: Delays and Service Interruptions

Wed Oct 15 2025 16:16:15 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The Federal Aviation Administration reports significant disruptions in air traffic control services across the U.S. due to staffing shortages amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, leading to longer flight delays and heightened security concerns.

Just days into the federal government shutdown, Hollywood Burbank Airport experienced a near six-hour closure of its air traffic control tower, signaling the severe impact of staffing shortages on U.S. aviation. Call-outs and delays are increasing nationwide as the shutdown continues, raising alarms among aviation professionals regarding the safety and efficiency of air travel.

A startling message came over the radio from an air traffic control tower near Los Angeles less than a week into the federal government shutdown: “The tower is closed due to staffing.”

Without enough air traffic controllers to guide planes into and out of Hollywood Burbank Airport, the tower went dark for almost six hours on Oct. 6, leaving pilots to coordinate their movements among themselves. Flight delays averaged two-and-a-half hours in one of the first visible signs that the shutdown was already taking a toll on the nation’s aviation system.

Since the shutdown began on Oct. 1, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reported controller shortages in major cities, affecting airports nationwide from Boston to Philadelphia, and Atlanta to Houston. The ripple effects have led to significant flight delays in Nashville, Dallas, Newark, and beyond.

Moreover, unscheduled absences among security screeners at several airports have begun to increase, with the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) union representatives warning that longer lines at security checkpoints could emerge, especially after workers received their final paychecks over the weekend.

Experts and union leaders describe the disruptions as a stark reminder of the already overstretched aviation system, which suffers chronic understaffing and outdated technology. They warn that these cracks in the system may grow deeper as the shutdown continues without the needed paychecks for workers.

“It’s like having a drought the year after you had a drought,” said Greg Raiff, CEO of Elevate Aviation Group.

Ongoing Problems and Historical Context

Such issues are not new and hark back to the 2019 government shutdown, which lasted for 35 days—the longest in U.S. history—where air traffic controllers' workloads drastically increased, causing some to sue the federal government over missed paychecks.

“Here we are so many years later, and the problems have not been addressed,” lamented aviation attorney Ricardo Martinez-Cid, highlighting that the current circumstances reflect years of neglected warnings.

Before the current shutdown, the FAA was already grappling with a significant controller shortage and an aging technological infrastructure. Even the hiring of 2,000 new controllers may not be enough to resolve ongoing issues, as much work remains to modernize outdated operational technology.

Future Implications and Risks

The implications of continued shutdowns have raised concerns among TSA representatives about potential losses of security staff due to uncertainty surrounding their employment conditions. Furthermore, fears persist that these conditions might discourage new workforce entrants from pursuing careers in air traffic control.

Lawmakers in previous hearings have called for reforms to ensure the FAA remains funded during government shutdowns, stressing the aviation system's vulnerability. Such disruptions have long been understood to compromise the overall safety of air travel.

Despite bipartisan calls for stability and reform, the aviation infrastructure remains exposed to the ramifications of political conflicts seven years later, with many experts asserting that urgent changes are overdue to prevent future crises.