FAA Reports Thousands of Flight Delays Across US Amid Staffing Shortages During Government Shutdown

The ongoing U.S. government shutdown, now in its third-longest stretch, is causing significant staffing shortages among air traffic controllers and TSA officers, resulting in widespread flight delays across major airports including Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Newark, Las Vegas, and Phoenix. Despite these staffing challenges, aviation data indicates that flight performance remains average to above average, with cancellations staying low, though delays have increased recently, reaching nearly 7,850 on one recent day. The FAA has resorted to slowing air traffic at some airports to ensure safety amid absences, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reported that over half of flight delays are due to staffing issues, a sharp rise from the usual 5%. The Trump administration has blamed Democrats for the shutdown in videos aired at some airports, though many airports have refused to play them. Experts warn that delays may worsen as unpaid workers take sick days, drawing parallels to the 2019 shutdown. The shutdown also continues to affect other federal functions, such as operations related to the U.S. nuclear stockpile, while no resolution appears imminent given the ongoing partisan stalemate in Congress.