Overview
- FlightAware counted 7,850 U.S. flight delays on Sunday and more than 1,000 by Monday, with the FAA citing staffing gaps at Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and Newark and flagging possible slowdowns in Las Vegas and Phoenix.
- Roughly 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA employees remain on duty without pay; after a partial paycheck last week, controllers are likely to receive a zero-dollar check on Oct. 28 if the funding lapse persists.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says staffing-related delays have jumped to 53% from about 5% before the shutdown, leading the FAA to impose flow controls that deliberately slow traffic to maintain safety.
- Union leaders report controllers taking gig jobs and working six-day, 60-hour weeks, warning that financial strain could drive more sick calls and longer waits for travelers.
- Training pipelines are at risk, with funding for programs expiring Oct. 31 and reports indicating the administration is exploring temporary options to cover controller pay to prevent broader disruption.