Thousands of U.S. Air Traffic Controllers Working Unpaid in Shutdown

The U.S. government shutdown has left thousands of air traffic controllers working without pay, raising serious concerns about fatigue, safety, and the overall efficiency of the nation’s aviation system.

Although more than 11,000 FAA employees have been furloughed, the country’s 13,000 active air traffic controllers are classified as “essential” personnel under the Department of Transportation’s contingency plan. That means they must remain on the job to protect “life and property,” even as paychecks are suspended until the shutdown ends.

Controllers Stretched Thin

Controllers were already struggling before the funding lapse. According to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), many are working ten-hour shifts, six days a week, under mandatory overtime orders. The shutdown has only intensified the strain, as controllers must continue operating without pay while also losing support staff.

More than 2,300 aviation safety professionals—such as technicians, inspectors, and administrative staff—have been furloughed. NATCA President Nick Daniels warned this compounds risks: “The increased stress and fatigue that comes from working long hours without pay cannot be overstated. Government shutdowns reduce the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System and erode the layers of safety that keep the flying public secure.”

Safety Programs Put on Hold

While controllers remain in the towers and radar facilities, key safety and modernization programs have been suspended. Training for new hires, ongoing performance analysis, and oversight functions are paused until funding resumes. That interruption adds to an already critical staffing shortage.

The FAA is currently short more than 3,500 controllers, and industry experts say the pipeline of new recruits was fragile even before the shutdown. NATCA previously warned that “any disruption, whether from a shutdown or a hiring freeze, will absolutely hurt how many planes we can safely put in the air.”

Financial and Emotional Strain

Controllers are paid biweekly, and the next payday falls on October 10. If the shutdown does not end before then, thousands of frontline staff will miss their checks, despite being required to work. While back pay is traditionally issued once a shutdown ends, the uncertainty creates severe stress for families.

The situation is reminiscent of the 2018–2019 shutdown, which lasted 35 days and ended only after a small number of unpaid controllers called in sick, leading to ground stops at New York’s LaGuardia Airport and cascading delays nationwide. Many in the industry fear history could repeat itself if the current impasse drags on.

High Stakes for U.S. Aviation

The shutdown comes amid heightened public scrutiny of aviation safety following a series of high-profile incidents, including a deadly mid-air collision earlier this year and multiple near misses at major airports. Although controllers were not responsible for these events, they have fueled calls for stronger staffing levels and more resilient infrastructure.

Congress is debating proposals such as the Aviation Funding Stability Act, which would guarantee pay for essential FAA employees during funding lapses. For now, however, the measure remains stalled, and political disagreements over healthcare provisions and budget priorities have left no clear end in sight.

Looking Ahead

For the traveling public, the immediate effects of the shutdown may be longer lines at security, potential flight delays, and reduced efficiency in the skies. For controllers, the stakes are even higher: balancing safety for millions of passengers while working mandatory overtime with no paycheck in sight.

Industry leaders warn that prolonged funding gaps risk damaging morale and pushing already overworked controllers out of the profession. If that happens, the nation’s aviation system—already stretched thin—could face even greater instability in the years ahead.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, gizmodo.com, cnbc.com