WASHINGTON — Representatives of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) were joined by officials from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Transportation at a news conference calling on Congress to immediately reopen the government and resume full funding, as controllers face their first missed full paycheck amid a 28-day shutdown.
Speakers painted a stark picture of mounting stress: many air traffic controllers are already working six days a week, taking on additional jobs to cover expenses, and the agency faces a shortfall of 3,500 controllers. According to FAA data, staffing shortages have caused flight delays at major hubs, with Newark Liberty and Austin-Bergstrom airports reporting average departure delays of roughly 40 minutes earlier this week.
“You’re trusting us to move you 30,000 feet above the ground, and we’re showing up without a check,” said controller Joseph Reynolds. The union’s president warned that safety margins are narrowing as fatigue grows and morale sinks. If pay isn’t restored soon, he warned, the system could face broader disruption.
Legislators are under pressure: separate bills to pay controllers and other essential workers have been floated, but union leaders said piecemeal solutions aren’t sufficient. They argue only a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government can restore stability. With SNAP benefits also set to halt for 42 million Americans, the shutdown’s ripple effects are wide-reaching.
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