Thousands of flights are being delayed across the US due to staffing shortages amid the government shutdown.
Orlando International (MCO), Washington Reagan National (DCA) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) have all implemented Ground Delay Programs, limiting the number of arriving flights per hour.
At Orlando, the program is expected to last from Thursday evening through Friday morning, with maximum delays reaching up to six and a half hours for some flights.
Washington National has reduced arrivals to 26 per hour, with maximum delays around five hours, while Dallas/Fort Worth is allowing 72 arrivals per hour, with average delays just over 20 minutes.
The disruptions hit hours after major airports along the East Coast suffered similar disruptions due to storms rolling in, unleashing winds and intense rain.
Vice President JD Vance[1] warned Thursday that holiday air travel could become a ‘disaster’ if the shutdown is not resolved.
‘What happens when the security lines are not an hour long, but they’re four hours long? What happens when pilots start not showing up for work because they’re so focused on paying the bills, they can’t fly the plane safely? That’s going to lead to massive delays,’ he said.
Vance added that federal workers missing paychecks could fail to show up for work, further straining airport operations.
This is a developing story… More updates to come.
Thousands of flights are being delayed across the US due to staffing shortages amid the government shutdown (stock)
The shutdown, now in its 30th day, has already prompted the FAA to issue temporary ground stops due to staffing shortages, including a recent pause at a Southern California air traffic facility.
Airlines and travelers are urged to prepare for disruptions and check flight schedules in advance.
Officials warn that without congressional action to reopen the government, delays are likely to worsen as more federal workers and aviation personnel are unable to report to duty.
Republicans, including Vance, are calling on Senate Democrats to join in passing a clean continuing resolution to end the shutdown.
Thursday’s delays affect all flights from the contiguous US and selected Canadian airports. Airlines are working to manage schedules, but passengers should expect significant disruptions.
The FAA said that the programs are necessary to prevent congestion at airports that cannot handle the normal flow of arrivals due to insufficient staffing.
The government shutdown means that 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers aren’t being paid, causing huge increases in sick days and absences.
ATC workers and TSA agents are considered essential, required to work despite not receiving paychecks. During shutdowns, absenteeism rises as many struggle to afford gas and childcare.
Vice President JD Vance warned Thursday that holiday air travel could become a ‘disaster’ if the shutdown is not resolved
Pleading with Congress to end the shutdown, National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) President Nick Daniels called the lack of pay a dangerous distraction to staff.
‘Every day that this shutdown drags on, the system becomes less safe,’ he warned during a press conference.
Fully-qualified air traffic controllers’ starting salaries range from $60,000 to $130,000, according to FlyingMag. Salaries max out at around $175,000, but air traffic controllers can earn more by working overtime.
Jack Criss, an air traffic controller who has had to work DoorDash delivery shifts on top of his job to get by, has described the strain the shutdown has placed on him and his colleagues.
‘It is hard enough just going to work,’ Criss told CBS. ‘Now, when you add not getting paid, that’s when you just like multiply the level of pressure. And you know, air traffic is a safety-sensitive position. The margin of error is zero.’
Speaking to the New York Post earlier this month, another air traffic controller said: ‘The financial anxiety doesn’t just hurt morale; it directly affects safety.
‘When someone responsible for thousands of lives a day is worrying about whether they can pay rent or feed their kids, focus suffers.
‘Sometimes that small moment where your mind is elsewhere can have serious impacts.’