Supplemental Info:
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), under Secretary Sean Duffy, has announced mandatory reductions in scheduled flight capacity at up to 40 major U.S. airports starting Friday, November 7, 2025. This is not a full closure but a 10% cut in overall flight operations to address severe staffing shortages among air traffic controllers and TSA officers, exacerbated by the ongoing federal government shutdown (now in its 35th day). The move aims to maintain aviation safety by preventing overload on understaffed facilities, but it could lead to widespread cancellations and delays during a peak holiday travel period.
This development follows escalating warnings from the DOT and FAA about "mass chaos" if the shutdown persists without a funding deal. Airlines have been urged to voluntarily reduce schedules, but mandatory caps are now imminent if Congress doesn't act.
The root cause is the U.S. government shutdown, triggered by partisan disputes over federal spending (details remain unresolved as of November 5).
Key impacts on aviation:
Unpaid Essential Workers: Approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers are required to work without pay, leading to fatigue, stress, and a surge in sick calls (e.g., 80% absences in New York-area facilities).
Recent Disruptions: Over the past weekend, 16,700 flights were delayed and 2,282 canceled nationwide, per FlightAware. Tuesday (November 4) saw 2,565 delays, down from prior peaks but still elevated.
Pre-Existing Shortages: The FAA has struggled with controller recruitment for years; the shutdown has pushed facilities past "staffing triggers," forcing reduced traffic flow.
Secretary Duffy has repeatedly blamed Democrats for prolonging the shutdown and warned of airspace closures in "certain parts of the country" if no resolution comes soon.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has called for an end to the impasse but rejected any coordinated "sickouts."
TSA’s 50,000 unpaid officers report rising sick calls, lengthening lines to 60+ minutes at checkpoints. Reduced staffing forces lane closures and slower screening, heightening risks of missed threats. Combined with ATC constraints, this creates a dual bottleneck: fewer flights but slower processing, undermining efficiency and passenger confidence. Safety remains prioritized, but the system nears breaking—absent a shutdown resolution.
