The Division of Transportation may be compelled to close down the airspace in sure elements of the nation if the federal government shutdown continues into subsequent week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy mentioned on Tuesday.
“So if, in case you carry us to every week from at present, Democrats, you will note mass chaos,” he mentioned. “You will note mass flight delays. You will see mass cancelations, and you may even see us shut sure elements of the airspace, as a result of we simply can’t handle it as a result of we do not have the air visitors controllers.”
Practically 50% of all main air visitors management amenities face staffing shortages, in keeping with the Federal Aviation Administration. Air visitors controllers are required to work with out pay all through the shutdown.
About 13,000 air visitors controllers are at the moment working with out pay, in keeping with the FAA. On Friday, the company mentioned that 80% of New York space workers had referred to as out.
“These hard-working People have payments to pay, and they’re being compelled to make selections and selections,” Duffy mentioned Monday of air visitors controllers at an unrelated occasion in Philadelphia. “Do they go to work as an air visitors controller, or have they got to discover a completely different job to get sources, cash, to place meals on their desk, to place fuel of their automotive? And as each day goes by, I believe the issue is simply going to worsen, not higher.”
Individuals wait in a safety checkpoint line at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, on Nov. 4, 2025. With the federal authorities shutdown getting into its second month, strains at airports are anticipated to develop amid elevated absenteeism amongst safety and security workers at a few of the nation’s busiest hubs.
Mark Felix/AFP through Getty Photographs
Duffy made comparable feedback throughout an interview with ABC Information’ “This Week” co-anchor Martha Raddatz on Sunday.
“We are going to delay, we’ll cancel, any type of flight throughout the nationwide airspace to ensure individuals are protected” amid the shortages, Duffy mentioned, whereas on the identical time a floor cease was in impact at Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport as a consequence of staffing points.
“There’s a degree of danger that will get injected into the system when we have now a controller that is doing two jobs as an alternative of 1,” he added.
This can be a creating story. Please examine again for updates.
