What happens when the people keeping planes in the sky stop getting paid? America is finding out.
As the government shutdown drags into its 26th day, air traffic controllers are deemed “essential.”
They are forced to work without pay and are reaching their breaking point.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Sunday that many are calling in sick or taking second jobs just to stay afloat.
“They’re wearing thin,” he told Fox News. “They’re out there asking, ‘Can I drive Uber? Can I find another income to make ends meet?’”
The strain is starting to show. More than 3,000 flights were delayed Sunday.
Staffing shortages forced temporary groundings at major hubs like Los Angeles International Airport and Newark Liberty.
FAA Shutdown Warnings
Even the FAA issued alerts urging passengers to double-check departure times.
Duffy stopped short of saying whether flying is still safe.
His message was clear: “I need my controllers focused on the airspace, not their finances.”
With the shutdown now the second-longest in U.S. history, aviation experts worry déjà vu could strike.
In 2019, mass absences from air traffic controllers helped end the last major shutdown.
This time, the stakes feel higher. Game 3 of the World Series is in L.A.
Monday—and millions more will soon take to the skies for Thanksgiving.
