During the federal government shutdown, air traffic controllers are working without pay, causing significant financial stress that the Department of Transportation (DOT) fears could impact performance or lead to absenteeism. While major travel delays due to staffing were not reported Wednesday, some minor disruptions occurred Tuesday. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy noted a slight uptick in sick calls and expressed concern about controllers needing to take second jobs. The air traffic controllers' union (NATCA) is encouraging members to remain on the job but calls for the government to reopen swiftly to alleviate the pressure, stating that waiting to see how long controllers can last is not acceptable.
Read more: https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2025/10/air-traffic-control-staffing-steady-stress-during-shutdown-worries-dot/408697/
