Air traffic controllers will miss their paychecks due to the ongoing government shutdown, raising concerns that mounting financial stress could take a toll on the understaffed employees managing thousands of flights daily.
Flight delays are rising nationwide as controllers call out sick increasingly, adding strain on the Federal Aviation Administration which was already facing a shortage of workforce.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, have stressed the immense pressure on these controllers, indicating that the problems could become worse the longer the shutdown persists.
Controllers express worry not only for their financial obligations like paying mortgages and groceries but also for life-sustaining medications for their families. One controller shared the heartbreaking decision between his daughter’s recreational activities and their financial limitations during the shutdown.
“Air traffic controllers must have 100% focus 100% of the time,” Daniels noted at a news conference, describing the severe stress that the controllers are under. Stories from controllers reveal their desperation, emphasizing that delayed paycheck worries are overtaking their performance capabilities.
The FAA restricts the number of flights taking off and landing when controller shortages occur. This has led to significant delays, stretching hours at major airports, and recently requiring Los Angeles International Airport to pause all flights for nearly two hours.
Controllers are planning demonstrations outside at least 17 airports Tuesday, distributing flyers calling for an end to the shutdown. Some are forced to take secondary jobs to manage necessities during this crisis, with the number of sick calls climbing amid frustration and necessity.
Morale is plummeting as controllers juggle high-pressure responsibilities and financial uncertainties. Duffy has indicated that this shutdown complicates the recruitment of new controllers to alleviate the decade-long shortfall, jeopardizing future air traffic safety.
The situation escalates pressure on Congress to resolve the standstill, reminiscent of previous significant shutdowns that ultimately affected flight operations nationwide.
