Nearly 11,000 air traffic controllers in the United States have missed their first paycheck as the federal government shutdown enters its fourth week. The workers, deemed essential, continue to work without pay, receiving £0 for two weeks of labour.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that a second missed payday could be financially disastrous for employees. Speaking at LaGuardia Airport in New York, he said many controllers had planned for this moment but acknowledged the growing strain: “Day two gets harder, and day three is harder after that.”
Despite the financial pressures, Duffy assured the public that air travel remains safe. However, staffing issues have led to increased flight delays, with more than 3,000 flights delayed and 132 cancelled across the US, according to FlightAware. Problems have been reported in Chicago, Dallas, Nashville and other major cities.
Union leaders highlighted the personal toll. Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said workers are worried about affording essential medicine for their families. Some controllers have taken on side jobs with delivery services like Uber Eats and DoorDash, a practice Daniels called unsustainable given the need for full concentration on the job.
Airlines including United, Delta and JetBlue have stepped in to provide meals to unpaid federal workers at various hubs, as the shutdown continues without a resolution in sight.
