Transportation Secretary warns of ‘mass chaos’ in the skies if the shutdown continues

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned of potential chaos in the skies next week if the government shutdown continues. Air traffic controllers have already missed one paycheck and face missing a second next Tuesday. Many controllers have indicated they cannot manage missing two consecutive paychecks. This financial pressure could lead to widespread flight delays, cancellations, and potential airspace closures due to controller shortages. While current disruptions have been mostly isolated and temporary, a prolonged shutdown will exacerbate the problem. Airlines, unions, and the travel industry are urging Congress to end the shutdown to prevent further economic damage. The U.S. Travel Association estimates the economy has already lost over $4 billion due to the shutdown. This impact is expected to worsen significantly as the busy holiday travel season approaches. Flight on-time performance has not drastically fallen yet, but specific airports have experienced notable delays. Despite overall numbers appearing lower than typical, staffing shortages have caused delays in Phoenix, and weather is impacting flights in New Jersey and New York.