The United States experienced significant travel disruptions on Sunday, with over 8,000 flights delayed due to persistent air traffic controller shortages. This crisis has been exacerbated by the ongoing federal government shutdown, now in its 26th day. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) faced staffing issues at 22 locations on Saturday, warning of further delays and cancellations in the coming days. According to FlightAware, a flight-tracking website, delays surged from approximately 5,300 on Saturday to over 8,000 by Sunday evening. Major airlines, including Southwest, American, United, and Delta, reported substantial delays, with Southwest alone seeing 45% of its flights affected. Approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are working without pay during the shutdown, leading to increased stress and potential absences. The FAA implemented ground delay programs at key airports such as Chicago’s O’Hare, Washington’s Reagan National, and Newark Liberty International due to staffing shortages. The Trump administration has cautioned that disruptions will worsen as controllers miss their first full paycheck on Tuesday. This situation mirrors the 2019 shutdown, where absences spiked as workers missed paychecks, leading to slowed air traffic in major hubs. The political standoff continues, with Republicans blaming Democrats for opposing a clean funding bill, while Democrats criticize Republicans for refusing to negotiate over expiring health care subsidies.
More than 8,000 US flights delayed as air traffic control absences persist
