Overview
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said parts of U.S. airspace could be closed as soon as next week if Congress does not restore funding by Nov. 11.
- Roughly 13,000 air traffic controllers and about 50,000 TSA officers are working without pay on day 35 of the shutdown.
- Nearly half of major air traffic control facilities report shortages, and the FAA is slowing arrivals and ordering occasional ground stops to manage risk.
- Controller absenteeism is surging, including an Oct. 31 stretch when the FAA reported about 80% of New York–area controllers were out.
- Unions and major airlines are urging a clean stopgap to end the stalemate, as controllers brace for another $0 pay stub and Senate efforts remain deadlocked.