Overview
- TSA officers and air traffic controllers are designated essential and are working without pay, keeping flights moving without widespread cancellations at major hubs including JFK, LaGuardia and Newark.
- TSA says about 61,000 of its 64,000 employees are exempt from furloughs and the agency is prepared to screen roughly 2.5 million passengers daily, though extended unpaid work could lengthen wait times.
- Phoenix Sky Harbor reports average security waits under 20 minutes with few disruptions since Oct. 1, and airport leaders urge travelers to arrive early and be patient.
- The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reports normal operations now but cautions that a prolonged lapse could bring delays and “severe operating challenges” as federal staffing strains grow.
- FAA vulnerabilities persist with more than 2,800 controller shortages, hiring and training curtailed, some inspections paused, and DOT plans indicating over 11,000 potential FAA furloughs; experts point to 2018 sickouts as a warning.