Shutdown Forces Control Tower Closure, Causes Delays

Amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, air traffic controllers and other aviation workers are being required to work without pay, prompting worries about paying bills and adding to on‑the‑job stress and fatigue. Staffing shortages and a rise in sick calls have forced at least one control tower — Hollywood Burbank — to close and have triggered staffing alerts and ground delays at major hubs including Denver and Newark. The FAA has warned it will slow traffic into affected airports to maintain safety, and some pilots have been directed to use non‑towered procedures, producing delays of two hours or more. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy visited Newark to meet controllers, urged Congress to end the shutdown, and warned the funding gap is disrupting hiring, training and modernization efforts at the controller academy. Union leaders, industry groups and officials say controllers should be paid during the shutdown and warn that if the funding lapse persists disruptions could escalate into widespread delays and cancellations across the East Coast and nationally.