Air traffic controllers received their first zero paycheck on Tuesday, October 28. The ongoing federal government shutdown is placing stress, both financially and mentally, on these workers responsible for ensuring the safety of the country's airspace. Here is a look at the crisis brewing in the nation's skies.

Air Traffic Controllers Miss First Whole Paycheck on Tuesday

The government shutdown has officially entered its fourth week with no end in sight. Air traffic controllers missed their full paycheck on Tuesday as staffing shortages are growing. Aviation experts warn that the disruptions to the air travel network will not ease until workers begin to receive pay again. Because air traffic controllers are considered essential employees, they are required to report to work even in the absence of a paycheck.

Controllers are calling in sick with greater frequency. Some employees cite that they are refusing to show up for work as a sign of protest, while others are missing work so that they can take on gig jobs in order to put food on the table. Experts worry that the financial stress put on the air traffic controllers is causing an unnecessary risk to the safety of the airspace system. The shutdown is also exacerbating a preexisting controller shortage. In addition, students are making the choice to walk away from the profession, putting the future of the aviation industry at risk.

Workers are picketing some of the country's busiest airports, including Los Angeles International (LAX). An informational leafletting campaign has been launched by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) on Tuesday, coinciding with the first zero paycheck.

Controllers are protesting the fact that they are working mandatory overtime, defined as ten-hour days, six days a week, without pay. The NATCA has officially noted that many of their members are working second jobs to cover their bills, causing more stress and fatigue while directing flights.

The leaflets provide details about how the shutdown is impacting the entirety of the aviation system. The information notes that the nation's aviation industry contributes $1.5 trillion to the U.S. economy on an annual basis. The campaign also warns that the shutdown will stop the necessary modernization projects currently slated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that more controllers are calling in sick when compared to before the shutdown. Duffy also confirmed that some students who had been enrolled at the controller academy have left the program. He said that the federal government is only about a week away from not being able to pay the students, as per their agreement. The loss of these students will have long-lasting impacts on the nation's aviation system, as the training takes years to complete.

Delays Worsen as System Becomes Increasingly Strained

The shutdown's impacts on the air traffic control system are already leading to major disruptions in the skies. Over 50 staffing shortages have been documented since Friday morning. The delays are expanding across the country from coast to coast, triggering a ripple effect for airports that may not be dealing with staff shortages.

Sunday was a particularly rough day in the friendly skies. According to FlightAware, over 6,000 delays were reported on this day. The disruptions were blamed on a combination of weather and staffing shortages. For example, flights in and out of LAX were temporarily halted on Sunday due to a lack of staff at the Southern California TRACON, the agency that handles both arrivals and departures. A ground delay was also in place for hours on Sunday at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.

Going back to October 1 at the beginning of the shutdown, there have been at least 264 reports of staffing issues across FAA facilities. This figure is more than four times the number of problems reported during the same time period in 2024.

Air traffic controllers routinely route flights to airspaces that have more staffing available. However, when this rerouting is not possible, the controllers are forced to slow down the arrivals and departures so that the proper safety protocols can be followed.

Unfortunately, the situation is likely to get worse before it gets better. Senate Democrats blocked the GOP's stopgap funding bill for a 13th time on Tuesday. Democrats are insisting that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced subsidies be extended before agreeing to the funding legislation.

The longest shutdown in history happened during the first Trump administration, a closure that lasted 35 days beginning in December of 2018. Government officials were forced to negotiate and agree to a budget after 10 air traffic controllers called out sick and severely disrupted the network.

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