CITIZENS NEWS

Government shutdown triggers travel nightmare as controller shortages force ground stops at major U.S. airports

By isabelle // 2025-10-27

• The federal government shutdown has caused critical air traffic controller staffing shortages.
• Unpaid controllers led to nationwide flight delays and ground stops.
• The system was already understaffed before the political crisis.
• Union officials warn the stress makes the aviation system less safe.
• This travel chaos highlights the real-world cost of political deadlock.

A perfect storm of political brinkmanship and neglected infrastructure brought America’s skies to a near standstill on October 26, as major airports from coast to coast experienced hours-long delays. The ongoing federal government shutdown, now the second-longest in U.S. history, created critical staffing shortages among the essential air traffic controllers forced to work without pay. This failure in Washington directly translated into a day of travel chaos for thousands of Americans, highlighting the real-world consequences of political deadlock. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) issued a ground stop that lasted nearly two hours for flights departing to and from the Bay Area. The airport confirmed the disruption was due to a staffing issue at a nearby facility. “This was due to a staffing issue at Oakland,” the airport stated. “The ground stop lasted from 8:45 to 10:30 this morning.” The problems were not isolated to the West Coast. Chicago O'Hare International delayed departures by 50 minutes on Sunday afternoon due to staffing shortages. On the East Coast, New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport experienced a ground delay of over two hours. The ripple effects were felt nationwide, with airports in Las Vegas, Dallas, Denver, Orlando, and Seattle all reporting significant delays.

A system under stress

The core of the issue is the 13,000 air traffic controllers who are being directed to work without pay during the shutdown. Their first missed paycheck was imminent, creating immense financial pressure and stress for the individuals responsible for the safety of millions of passengers. An automated statement from the Federal Aviation Administration acknowledged the systemic risk. “As Secretary Duffy has said, there have been increased staffing shortages across the system,” the statement reads. “When that happens, the FAA slows traffic into some airports to ensure safe operations.” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed sympathy for the unpaid workers. “On Tuesday, 13,000 air traffic controllers will get a $0 paycheck because Democrats are holding the government hostage,” Secretary Duffy wrote in a social media post. “I don’t want our controllers going to a FOOD BANK! The fact that they are having to think about how to put food on the table is UNACCEPTABLE.”

Political blame game continues

The political stalemate shows no signs of abating. A Republican-backed stopgap funding measure was blocked by the Senate, failing to receive the 60 votes needed to advance. Republicans have blamed Democrats for the lapse in federal funding, claiming they are hindering efforts to pass a “clean” resolution with no policy additions. Democrats, however, have claimed they will not reopen the government until Republicans consider their health care proposals. These address topics such as the Affordable Care Act tax subsidies that are set to expire on December 31. This political impasse leaves essential workers in the lurch and the traveling public facing uncertainty. The head of the air traffic controllers' union highlighted the human toll. National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Nick Daniels said at a press conference that controllers are under immense stress and some are taking second jobs to pay their bills. The shutdown "leads to an unnecessary distraction, and they cannot be 100% focused on their jobs, which makes this system less safe," Daniels said. "We didn't start a shutdown. We don't end the shutdown — our elected officials do. And our message is simple — end the shutdown today." Secretary Duffy has been clear about the operational realities, vowing to prioritize safety over convenience. "My job is to keep the airspace safe. And so, if I don't feel like I have enough controllers or enough controllers that are focused, we will slow down traffic, we will stop traffic," Duffy stated in a television interview. The FAA is already about 3,500 air traffic controllers short of targeted staffing levels, with many having worked mandatory overtime and six-day weeks even before the shutdown began. This pre-existing vulnerability has been dramatically exacerbated by the funding lapse, pushing the system toward a breaking point. This widespread disruption serves as a reminder of how deeply our national infrastructure relies on the dedicated service of individuals who are now being forced to work for free. The sight of major airports grinding to a halt is a direct result of a political failure, proving that when the government ceases to function, the public pays the price not just in tax dollars, but in time, security, and peace of mind. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com FoxBusiness.com Reuters.com

national security air travel transportation big government chaos aviation outrage absurd government shutdown government debt air traffic controllers