Radar operators work without pay because of the government shutdown

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced a significant 10% reduction in air traffic at 40 of the country’s major airport markets. The decision, communicated yesterday, 5 November 2025, is a direct consequence of the ongoing federal government shutdown, which is driving the entire air traffic control system to the brink of collapse due to worsening staffing shortages and increasing fatigue among on-duty personnel (see AVIONEWS 1, 2 and 3).

The restrictions, intended to prevent worse disruptions and to ensure operational safety, will take effect starting tomorrow, Friday, 7 November.

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, and FAA Administrator, Bryan Bedford, outlined the measure at a press conference. The move, they explained, became necessary to "ease the pressure" on the national air traffic control system. Thousands of essential FAA employees, including air traffic controllers, are being forced to continue their crucial work managing more than 44,000 daily flights (passenger, cargo and private) without pay; a direct effect of the administrative paralysis in place since 1 October.

"We determined that a 10% reduction in scheduled capacity was appropriate to continue to relieve pressure on our controllers", said Bedford, stressing that the system is now operating with staffing safety margins that are "no longer sustainable".

The federal funding lapse, now in its 36th day, has exacerbated a controller shortage that already existed, leading to increased absences and growing safety concerns. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association has reported that nearly half of the 30 busiest airports in the nation are experiencing staffing shortfalls, with delays averaging more than an hour.

Although the FAA has not yet released the specific list of affected airports, it has confirmed it is consulting with air carriers to finalize the list of impacted cities. Secretary Duffy warned of the risks if the shutdown continues: in that case, the agency might be forced to take more drastic steps, resulting in "mass delays and mass cancellations" of flights. Administrator Bedford also reiterated that if the 10% reduction is insufficient to stabilize operations, the agency will reimpose further restrictions to maintain the safety and functionality of the system.

Meanwhile, industry associations and airlines continue to pressure Congress to quickly end the shutdown, stressing that operational instability is seriously jeopardizing the efficiency of air transportation.

1) Continued