Oct 7, 2025 - Energy & Climate

Staffing issues see U.S. flights delayed as shutdown persists

Rebecca Falconer

A dark, graying haired Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, wearing a black suit and white, open-collar shirt, stands at a podium in front of a US flag and DOT flag, at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in Newark, New Jersey, near the baggage carousel. — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy during a news conference at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in Newark, New Jersey, on Monday. Photo: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Flights at major U.S. airports were delayed amid staffing issues on Monday night, hours after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reported an uptick in air traffic controllers calling in sick since the government shutdown began.

Why it matters: The disruptions were affecting airports in the Los Angeles-area, Newark and Denver. But there are concerns the situation could escalate like during the 2019 shutdown, when severe strains on U.S. air travel helped push President Trump to end it after 35 days.

The delays on Monday prompted California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to criticize President Trump for the shutdown, while Duffy pointed the finger at Democrats — adding to the blame game blitz on Capitol Hill over the standoff that's turned into midterm messaging fodder for both parties.

State of play: There's already a nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers and Duffy told reporters earlier on Monday that six days into the shutdown there had been a slight increase in these workers calling in sick and that this would lead to delays.

Air traffic controllers and TSA staff are considered essential workers. Over 13,000 air traffic controllers were expected to work without pay, per the Department of Transportation's shutdown plan.

Hundreds of TSA agents called out sick from work during the 2019 partial government shutdown, Axios' Herb Scribner notes.
Duffy moved to reassure the public on Monday, saying: "If we think there's issues in the airspace, we will shut it down. We will close it down. We will delay. But again, it's creating a ripple effect for our controllers."

Flashback: Government shutdown strains U.S. aviation system

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Staffing issues see U.S. flights delayed as shutdown persists

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