This Crucial Aspect Of Air Travel Has Taken A Serious Hit During The Government Shutdown

While flying is still considered one of the safest methods of travel, aerophobia (the fear of flying) is still very common among people — and could be getting worse considering the huge impact the government shutdown is having on air travel. While some people may find flying unsafe, airline pilots know a few secrets that will make you less afraid to fly, and many seasoned and professional individuals, from pilots to flight attendants to air traffic controllers, help to make our trips to 30,000 feet and beyond safe. However, the government shutdown, which has been in effect for 28 days as of October 28, is having an enormous effect on air travel because one crucial aspect has taken a serious hit: air traffic controllers.

According to a CNN report, air traffic controller (ATC) staffing shortages have worsened since the shutdown began, causing huge delays in airports across the country. Because of the shortage of air traffic controllers at TRACON, a Southern Californian ATC location, all departing and arriving flights to and from Los Angeles International Airport were temporarily halted on Sunday, October 26, 2025. With the government shutdown approaching its fifth week of closure, it has to make travelers wonder if they should avoid booking a ticket to travel during the government shutdown altogether.

Certain days of the year may be worse to fly, and with millions of Americans looking to hit the skies soon for the 2025 Thanksgiving holiday, the stress and anxiety is building. Air traffic controllers are considered essential workers so they must be on the job, but they are working without pay because of the shutdown. So an already fraught situation has gotten worse. And U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has mentioned (via NBC) that travelers should be prepared for more delays and cancelations as the shutdown continues.

While they're not as well-known as pilots, air traffic controllers play a massive role on the ground ensuring that the flight is safe from takeoff to touchdown. ATC employees are considered the unsung heroes of the sky and make sure that their job is done right to the best of their abilities every time it's "wheels up."

In a job where a sharp eye, motivation, resilience and calm under pressure, and the ability to adapt on the fly are all required skills, working longer hours and more shifts with no pay is an added stressor to an already stressful job. With mounting anxiety over money and work, more and more ATC employees have been calling in sick, only adding to the shortage. CNN reported more than 50 staffing shortages over the October 24 weekend alone.

The lives of everyone in the skies depends on the ATC employees on the ground. They are the reason every plane soars through the skies safely without issue, bringing people to and from vacations or to loved ones every single day. Since October 1, 2025, when the shutdown began, there have been approximately 264 staffing issues reported at FAA facilities — a more than quadruple increase since a year ago — and with ATC employees stressed and "wearing thin" according to Duffy (via CNN), hopefully the government can come to an agreement soon, so ATC employees can be paid and travel schedules can resume as normal.