Overview
- The FAA increased mandated reductions to 6% of flights at 40 major airports on Tuesday, with flight-tracking data showing more than 1,100 cancellations and thousands of delays for the day.
- Cuts are set to rise to 8% on Thursday and 10% by Friday unless revised, with officials citing internal safety reports including loss-of-separation events and runway incursions.
- The Senate has passed a bill to reopen the government and the House plans a vote Wednesday, yet the FAA and airlines warn normal operations will take days to weeks to rebuild once limits are lifted.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said air traffic controllers would receive 70% of back pay within 24–48 hours after reopening, as shortages fueled by unpaid work, retirements and second jobs strain facilities.
- President Donald Trump pressed controllers to return and backed $10,000 bonuses for perfect attendance while threatening to dock pay for absences, as industry estimates put daily economic losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars.