Political Deadlock Grounds Flights as FAA Staffing Crisis Mirrors 2019 Turbulence

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily halted flights to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Sunday morning due to staffing shortages at a Southern California air traffic control facility, compounding disruptions caused by the 23-day-old government shutdown. The ground stop, which began at 11:42 a.m. Eastern time, caused delays averaging 1 hour and 40 minutes for departing flights, with the FAA expecting to lift the restriction by 1:30 p.m. but warning that restrictions could persist, according to a Fortune report. Similar staffing issues also disrupted operations at Newark Liberty International Airport, Southwest Florida International Airport, and Teterboro Airport, the AP reported.

The FAA cited 22 "staffing triggers" in the previous 24 hours—among the highest since the shutdown began—indicating growing strain on air traffic controllers, who are working without pay, the Fortune report noted. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Fox News that financial stress is exacerbating absenteeism, with controllers increasingly calling in sick; that trend has been documented by U.S. News.

The shutdown has left 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers working without pay, raising concerns about long-term operational stability. The FAA is already 3,500 controllers short of staffing targets, with many working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks even before the shutdown, according to a Reuters report. FlightAware data showed over 6,100 nationwide delays on Thursday, with 53% attributed to staffing issues—far above the typical 5%, USA Today reported.

The situation echoes the 2019 shutdown, which saw similar disruptions and forced lawmakers to end the 35-day impasse. Unions and airlines have again called for a swift resolution, with the air traffic controllers union criticizing the "impossible choices" workers face between paying rent or groceries, a point previously highlighted by U.S. News. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) blamed Democrats for the stalemate, while White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt warned of "significant flight disruptions" ahead, a concern raised in the earlier Reuters coverage.

Legislative efforts to address the crisis remain stalled. Senate Republicans introduced a bill to fund controller pay, but it lacks Democratic support, according to Politico. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is reportedly exploring creative budgetary solutions, including reallocating funds from other agencies, though no concrete plan exists, Newsmax reported. Transportation Secretary Duffy has also threatened disciplinary action against controllers who abuse sick leave, though union leaders argue the focus should remain on safety, as described by The New York Times.

With controllers set to miss their first full paycheck on October 28, pressure is mounting on Congress to act. "We can't allow Democrats to use our airports as political leverage," said Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas), whose bill to fund controller pay awaits a Senate vote, Politico reported. For now, travelers brace for more turbulence as the aviation system teeters between resilience and crisis.