WASHINGTON — Travel chaos deepened across the United States on Monday as the federal government shutdown reached its 27th day, causing a wave of flight delays and mounting frustration among passengers.
According to FlightAware, more than 5,600 flights were delayed nationwide on Monday, following over 8,800 delays on Sunday, as air traffic controller absences soared amid the prolonged budget impasse in Washington.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it was forced to impose ground delay programs at major airports, including Newark Liberty International (New Jersey), Austin-Bergstrom (Texas), and Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW). Earlier in the day, flights across the Southeast were also affected due to staff shortages at the Atlanta Terminal Radar Approach Control Center.
Air Travel Under Strain
The FAA said the delays stem from a severe shortage of working air traffic controllers — many of whom are currently working without pay. Approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers have been on the job without paychecks since President Donald Trump’s standoff with congressional Democrats began earlier this month.
Officials warned that disruptions could worsen as federal employees miss their first full paycheck on Tuesday.
“This is an unsustainable situation,” one transportation official said. “Controller absences are climbing, and the impact on the system is becoming more visible each day.”
On Sunday, nearly half of Southwest Airlines’ flights were delayed — about 2,089 out of 4,400 — while American Airlines reported 1,277 delayed flights (36%). United Airlines and Delta Air Lines also experienced widespread disruptions, with delays affecting 27% and 21% of their schedules, respectively.
By Monday evening, the numbers remained elevated: Southwest (31%), American (24%), Delta (18%), and United (12%).
Controller Shortages Hit Critical Levels
A U.S. Department of Transportation official said that 44% of Sunday’s delays were linked directly to controller absences — a dramatic spike from the usual 5%. The FAA has long been operating below ideal staffing levels, with estimates showing it is 3,500 controllers short of its target.
Even before the shutdown, many controllers were already working overtime and six-day weeks to maintain operations. The added stress of unpaid work has intensified fatigue and absenteeism.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy visited air traffic control staff in Cleveland on Monday as part of efforts to assess the situation firsthand. Meanwhile, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) announced that it will hold events at airports nationwide on Tuesday to mark the first missed payday and raise awareness about the growing crisis.
Passengers Feel the Fallout
As delays ripple through airports, travelers are expressing anger and exhaustion over long waits and missed connections. The situation recalls the 2019 government shutdown, when extended controller and TSA absences led to ground stops in New York and Washington, forcing authorities to temporarily slow air traffic.
With no resolution in sight, pressure is mounting on Congress and the White House to end the standoff before air travel grinds to a halt.
“Every day this continues, the system becomes more fragile,” one industry analyst warned. “The combination of fatigue, unpaid labor, and rising absences is a dangerous mix.”
