Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy Threatens Pre-Thanksgiving U.S. Flight Grounding

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, currently serving as NASA’s interim administrator, has issued a stark warning: all U.S. commercial flights may be grounded ahead of Thanksgiving, one of the year’s busiest travel periods.

The threat comes as the federal government shutdown, which began on October 1, continues to strain aviation operations. Air traffic controllers, many of whom have missed paychecks, are reportedly taking second jobs to stay afloat. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has urged lawmakers to end the shutdown, citing delays and cancellations caused by severe staffing shortages.

In an interview with CNBC, Duffy made his position clear. “If we thought that it was unsafe, we’ll shut the whole airspace down,” he said, acknowledging that the shutdown “includes an element of risk.”

“We won’t let people travel,” he added. “We’re not there at this point. It’s just significant delays.”

His remarks mark a serious escalation amid one of the longest shutdowns in U.S. history. Republicans, despite controlling both chambers of Congress, blame Democrats for refusing to approve a bill that excludes healthcare measures and includes deep Medicaid and agency budget cuts favored by former President Trump.

The air travel system has been hit hard. In a post on Friday, the FAA said, “After 31 days without pay, air traffic controllers are under immense stress and fatigue. Currently, half of our Core 30 facilities are experiencing staffing shortages, and nearly 80 percent of air traffic controllers are absent at New York–area facilities.”

The agency reiterated its stance: safety comes first. “When staffing shortages occur, the FAA will reduce the flow of air traffic to maintain safety. This may result in delays or cancellations.”


Related News: https://airguide.info/?s=FAA, https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/travel-health-security/

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, yahoo.com