Overview

• Air traffic controllers received a partial paycheck for pre-shutdown hours but will not be paid again until a funding deal passes, according to a Georgia union representative.
• Some controllers are logging 60-hour weeks with only four days off per month, compounding stress in an already demanding job.
• Staffing shortages are reported at multiple Atlanta-area towers, including Peachtree City, with unions warning the system remains fragile.
• Several towers and regional centers experienced closures and staffing gaps over the past week, raising the risk of safety-driven slowdowns.
• An analysis argues the shutdown amplifies longstanding weaknesses such as outdated technology and thin staffing, noting delays align with typical rates and urging real-time pay for essential workers and major modernization funding.