Overview
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the FAA is tracking a slight, localized increase in air traffic controller sick calls since the funding lapse began.
- To maintain safety, officials said the FAA will reduce traffic flow if absences grow, a move that could lead to delays or cancellations at major airports.
- About 10,800–13,000 controllers and roughly 50,000 TSA officers are working without pay, while approximately 11,000 FAA employees are furloughed.
- DOT warned that subsidies for the Essential Air Service program will expire as soon as Sunday, threatening routes to rural areas and heavily affecting Alaska.
- NATCA urged controllers to keep reporting for duty and cautioned that any coordinated job action is illegal, as leaders stress that flying remains safe for now.