Reported as of 11:00 am on Oct. 10, 2025.
The ongoing federal government shutdown has created significant operational challenges across the nation’s aviation system, with over 6,000 flights experiencing delays on Monday as air traffic controllers face unprecedented staffing shortages.
On Thursday, it was reported that flights at New Jersey’s Newark International Airport (EWR) were experiencing ground delays of 88 minutes due to low air traffic control staffing numbers, according to the FAA.
The Shutdown Effect
According to the U.S. Travel Association, the U.S. travel economy is taking a major hit from the ongoing government shutdown, with an estimated $1 billion in lost spending each week.
In a press statement, U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman said the shutdown is doing “real, irreversible damage,” as travelers face longer TSA lines, flight delays and reduced airport operations.
“Airports are reducing flights and we’ve seen entire control towers go dark,” Freeman said. “The longer this drags on, the worse the cascade of damage will be—for local communities, for small businesses and for the country. Congress needs to act now and reopen the government.”
The association is tracking the growing financial impact through its real-time cost ticker, which surpassed the $1 billion mark on Wednesday morning.
“Travel keeps America moving,” Freeman added. “When travel is delayed and services are disrupted, the ripple effects reach every corner of our country.”
A Week of Delays
Earlier this week, flight operations were severely impacted, with more than 6,153 flights delayed and over 370 cancellations reported on Monday alone, according to FlightAware. Major hubs are experiencing substantial disruptions, with Orlando International and Chicago O’Hare reporting over 40 percent of flights delayed, while Hollywood Burbank Airport saw 23 percent of its flights affected. The situation has forced some facilities to operate with reduced capacity or temporary closures.
Air traffic controllers, numbering approximately 13,000 nationwide, are working extended schedules without compensation during the shutdown, with many calling out sick. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association reports that 2,350 of its represented professionals have been furloughed, further reducing available staffing levels.
Closures & Staffing Shortages
Hollywood Burbank Airport experienced a complete closure of its air traffic control tower due to staffing shortages, resulting in the temporary suspension of flights. The facility resumed operations, but not before 56 flights were delayed and 12 were canceled, with an average delay of two hours and 31 minutes, according to the LA Times. Airport spokesperson Mike Christensen confirmed that operations eventually returned to normal levels.
The staffing crisis extends beyond individual airports, with CBS analysis of FAA data showing that only 10 percent of U.S. towers meet current staffing standards. Other major airports, including Newark Liberty International, Denver International and Harry Reid International in Las Vegas, have reported similar operational challenges. The Essential Air Service program, which supports air travel to smaller communities, faces potential expiration as early as Sunday if the shutdown continues.
Duffy assured that “the airspace remains safe” despite increased stress levels among controllers, according to CNN. However, the combination of existing staffing shortages and shutdown-related pressures continues to create operational uncertainties across the national aviation system.
