Flight delays across the United States surged to nearly 7,000 on Monday as the government shutdown stretched into its 27th day, worsening travel disruptions nationwide. Staffing shortages among air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers have forced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to impose ground delay programs at major airports. These include Newark in New Jersey, Austin in Texas, and Dallas Fort Worth in Texas, all of which experienced significant operational slowdowns.
The crisis has deepened as roughly 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers continue to work without pay amid the budget deadlock between President Donald Trump’s administration and congressional Democrats. Officials have warned that disruptions will likely intensify as controllers miss their first full paycheck, leading to growing absenteeism across critical aviation departments. The shutdown has already tested the limits of the aviation system, exposing how dependent U.S. air travel is on federal workforce stability.
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Over the weekend, the number of delayed flights reached staggering levels. On Sunday alone, more than 8,800 flights were delayed nationwide. Southwest Airlines saw 47% of its flights affected — about 2,089 — while American Airlines reported delays on 36% of flights, or 1,277 in total. United Airlines and Delta Air Lines also faced significant delays, affecting 27% and 21% of their operations, respectively. By Monday night, delays remained high across all major carriers, with Southwest at 34%, American at 29%, Delta at 22%, and United at 19%.
A U.S. Department of Transportation official revealed that 44% of Sunday’s flight delays were linked to air traffic controller absences — a dramatic rise from the typical 5%. Many controllers, already stretched thin before the shutdown, are now facing financial strain while managing mandatory overtime and extended workweeks. The FAA is currently short by about 3,500 controllers, amplifying pressure on those still reporting to work. These absences are now directly affecting national airspace efficiency and passenger safety.
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As public frustration mounts, political and industry leaders are urging an immediate resolution to the budget impasse. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy met with air traffic controllers in Cleveland to discuss the growing operational crisis, while the National Air Traffic Controllers Association is planning demonstrations at major airports to mark the first missed paycheck. Experts warn that if the shutdown continues, the impact could soon rival or exceed the 35-day shutdown in 2019, which forced authorities to slow air traffic in major hubs like New York and Washington.