The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned that there will not be enough air traffic controllers at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport tower on Tuesday evening. In Nashville, many controllers have stayed home, forcing the facility that directs incoming and outgoing flights to shut down temporarily.
On the seventh day of the U.S. government shutdown, similar scenes are unfolding across FAA offices nationwide, leading to widespread flight delays, reports A2 CNN.
Operational plans from the FAA show that approach and departure control centers for Houston, Newark, and Las Vegas are all facing shortages of controllers for at least part of Tuesday evening. The same issue affects air traffic centers managing flights around Boston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Dallas.
Both Houston’s major airports—George Bush Intercontinental and Hobby Airport—are expected to experience significant delays due to staff shortages.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that more controllers are reporting sick, adding pressure to an already strained system. Like Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, air traffic controllers are considered essential employees, meaning they must continue working even without pay during the shutdown.
While organized strikes or coordinated sick-outs are prohibited by federal law, the shortage of personnel means that even a small number of unplanned absences can seriously disrupt flight operations.
The ongoing shutdown, now in its second week, is beginning to impact millions of travelers nationwide and raises concerns about broader safety and logistical challenges if the impasse continues.
