Decade-Long ATC Crisis Nears Breaking Point as Shutdown Halts Progress

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The U.S. government shutdown has intensified a decade-long crisis in air traffic control, exacerbating staffing shortages and triggering widespread flight delays. With over 13,200 controllers working without pay since October 1, 2025, absenteeism has surged, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy estimating 10% of controllers calling in sick. This follows a pattern seen during the 2018-2019 shutdown, when unpaid furloughs led to "sickouts" and disrupted air travel nationwideHow the shutdown is making the air traffic controller shortage …^[1]. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has scrambled to manage capacity, diverting flights and canceling departures to maintain safety margins, but experts warn the system is nearing its breaking pointHow the government shutdown is making the air traffic controller ...^[5].

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The shutdown has compounded an existing controller shortage, which has plagued the FAA for over a decade. The agency has fallen behind in training replacements for retiring staff, and the shutdown has halted new training at the FAA AcademyHow the shutdown is making the air traffic controller shortage …^[1]. Meanwhile, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has condemned coordinated sickouts as illegal under federal law, urging members to avoid actions that could undermine public trustNATCA warns controllers ‘sickouts’ illegal as shutdown …^[3]. Despite these warnings, anonymous controllers report morale at its lowest since 2019, with some considering exits to the private sector to avoid financial strainUS Air Traffic Controllers Sick Calls Rise Amid Shutdown Delays^[4].

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To mitigate the crisis, the FAA relies on the Air Traffic Control System Command Center, which regulates traffic flow and deploys contingency plans. For example, when Burbank Airport reported no available controllers, the center redirected inbound flights to alternate airports and held departures on the groundHow the shutdown is making the air traffic controller shortage …^[1]. However, these measures come at a cost: Newark Liberty International Airport's capacity dropped from 80 to 28 aircraft per hour in June 2025 due to staffing shortages, before procedural upgrades temporarily restored throughput to 72 per hourHow the government shutdown is making the air traffic controller ...^[5]. While delays and cancellations are seen as necessary to prevent congestion, they disrupt millions of passengers and risk eroding the system's redundanciesHow the shutdown is making the air traffic controller shortage …^[1].

Congress has allocated $12.5 billion for ATC modernization in 2025, including $4.75 billion for telecommunications infrastructure and $3 billion for radar replacements. However, the shutdown has stalled progress on these initiatives, with the FAA Academy's funding dwindling and contractor bids for technology upgrades delayedHow the shutdown is making the air traffic controller shortage …^[1]. Aviation analysts argue that systemic reforms, such as the stalled Single European Sky model for the U.S., are needed to address long-term capacity issues. Without sustained investment, the FAA risks repeating the 2019 scenario, where public frustration over delays forced lawmakers to end the shutdownUS Air Traffic Controllers Sick Calls Rise Amid Shutdown Delays^[4].