Overview

• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said TSA officers and air traffic controllers are working without pay and reported a slight uptick in sick calls, prompting occasional traffic flow reductions to preserve safety.
• The FAA has furloughed about 11,000 support staff—roughly a quarter of its workforce—raising concerns about stalled modernization efforts and slower hiring and training for new controllers.
• The Department of Transportation warned that Essential Air Service subsidies may run out as soon as Sunday, with a notice indicating carrier obligations could be lifted after Oct. 12 and subsidy payments suspended starting Oct. 13.
• NATCA urged controllers to remain on the job and reminded members that coordinated job actions are illegal, while noting controllers are already working extended hours and face looming missed paychecks later in October.
• Passenger impacts have been limited so far, with normal TSA wait times and low cancellation counts over the weekend, though TSA cautioned that longer lines become more likely the longer funding lapses.