Government Shutdown Impacts Air Traffic Control Facilities

Amid an already established understaffed issue, air traffic control facilities are experiencing an increase in sick calls.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that the government shutdown is adding stress to air traffic controllers.

Amid an already established understaffed issue, air traffic control facilities are experiencing an increase in sick calls. Some are missing as many as 50% of employees on any given day since the shutdown started last week.

Controllers are mandatory federal employees, who are expected to show up for work during the shutdown. However, they are not being paid. The lack of staff has resulted in flight delays and cancellations as the FAA limits capacity through some sectors of the airspace.

The biggest impacted areas include several airports including, New Jersey, Las Vegas, California, Denver and more.