Washington, D.C. — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Wednesday that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will implement airspace restrictions due to ongoing staffing shortages amid the historic federal government shutdown.
Starting Friday, the FAA will reduce capacity by 10% at 40 major airports, affecting roughly 4,000 flights nationwide. The measure is intended to mitigate safety risks caused by lower staffing levels across the national airspace system.
The shutdown, now in its 36th day, is the longest in U.S. history. Thousands of aviation workers, including 13,000 air-traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers, continue to report for work without pay, creating mounting operational pressure.
Duffy emphasized the personal impact on these workers. “They’re heads of household. They have spouses at home, children… and when they lose income, they face real-world difficulties in paying their bills,” he said. While urging workers not to take side jobs, he acknowledged the strain the shutdown has placed on staffing.
Earlier this week, Duffy warned that if the staffing crisis worsens, the FAA and Department of Transportation may have to delay or cancel flights, or in extreme cases, close portions of U.S. airspace.
On October 31, the FAA reported that nearly half of the 30 busiest U.S. airports were experiencing air traffic controller shortages, resulting in over 6,200 delayed flights and 500 cancellations.
As the government shutdown continues, federal officials are monitoring staffing closely, balancing operational safety with the financial pressures on essential aviation personnel.
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