US Government Shutdown Could Worsen Air Travel Disruptions, Says Reuters

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed concerns on Wednesday about the potential impact of a partial government shutdown on air travel, noting that the government might be required to furlough 1,000 air traffic controllers currently in training.

If Congress fails to secure funding for government operations before Saturday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) anticipates that more than 17,000 employees could be furloughed and training efforts paused.

"Especially when it comes to transportation, the consequences would be disruptive and dangerous," Buttigieg stated during a press conference.

The White House highlighted that previous federal government shutdowns resulted in "significant delays and longer wait times for travelers." The U.S. Travel Association estimated that a partial shutdown could cost the nation’s travel economy up to $140 million daily.

The travel system would face challenges during a government shutdown, leading to increased flight delays, longer security screening lines, and setbacks in air travel modernization, the association noted. While air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security officers would be required to continue working, they would not receive pay during the shutdown.

Earlier this month, the FAA announced that it would extend cuts to minimum flight requirements at New York City-area airports through October 2024 due to staffing shortages. These requirements stipulate that airlines must use their takeoff and landing slots at least 80% of the time, or risk losing them.

The FAA had reported in August that it achieved its annual hiring goal of 1,500 controllers but is still approximately 3,000 controllers short of its staffing targets. Around a quarter of the current controllers are not yet fully certified.

A government watchdog report released in June indicated that air traffic operations were at risk, with controllers working mandatory overtime and longer weeks to compensate for shortages.

If Congress does not reauthorize the operations of the FAA separately, it would hinder the government’s ability to collect taxes on airline tickets.

During the 2019 shutdown, which lasted 35 days, absences among controllers and TSA officers increased, leading to longer checkpoint wait times at various airports. The FAA also had to slow air traffic, prompting lawmakers to address the deadlock.