The government has been short of air traffic controllers for years, and multiple presidential administrations have tried to convince retirement-age controllers to remain on the job.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Sunday that the ongoing government shutdown has exacerbated the problem, leading some air traffic controllers to speed up their retirements.
“Up to 15 or 20 a day are retiring,” Duffy told CNN.
Duffy did note that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth offered to lend military air traffic controllers, but it’s unclear whether the staff is certified to work on civilian systems.
He warned during that interview that U.S. air traffic could slow significantly if the federal government shutdown continues into the Thanksgiving travel season, which is less than two weeks away.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has already ordered flight cuts at major airports.
Exacerbating the shortage is that some air traffic controllers, who have gone unpaid for nearly a month, have stopped working.
Flight reductions began Friday at 4% and could reach 10% by Nov. 14.
On Sunday, 1,375 flights were canceled, and Duffy suggested that further cuts might be needed, possibly up to 20%.
“More controllers aren’t coming to work day by day, the further they go without a paycheck,” Duffy told “Fox News Sunday.”
As for the busy Thanksgiving holiday, he warned that the turmoil will only increase.
“As I look two weeks out, as we get closer to Thanksgiving travel, I think what’s going to happen is you’re going to have air travel slow to a trickle as everyone wants to travel to see their families,” Duffy said.
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