FAA to Furlough 10,000 Amid Latest Govt Shutdown

The Department of Transportation warned Thursday that a prolonged partial government shutdown would result in the furlough of more than 10,000 Federal Aviation Administration employees, while thousands of air traffic controllers would be required to remain on the job without pay.

According to the shutdown contingency plan released by the department, 13,835 air traffic controllers would be deemed essential and ordered to continue working during the funding lapse. The prospect has raised alarms about added stress on an already strained aviation system as the shutdown stretches on.

The funding impasse is expected to last until at least Tuesday, as House Democrats have not yet agreed to supply the votes necessary to expedite passage of a spending package that would reopen the government.

In a notice posted on its website, the Department of Transportation acknowledged the operational impact of the funding gap, stating, “Portions of DOT are affected by a lapse in appropriations.” The agency warned that “Website information may be outdated, transactions may be delayed, and inquiries may not be answered until funding is restored.”

The aviation industry has experienced significant disruption during past shutdowns. During last year’s extended funding lapse, the system saw widespread fallout, including more than 4,500 flight cancellations over a single weekend in mid-November and scaled-back operations at dozens of airports across the country.

Concerns about aviation safety have also remained elevated over the past year following several serious incidents, including a deadly collision in January 2025 between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines flight.

President Donald Trump weighed in on the situation, urging lawmakers to act swiftly to bring the shutdown to an end. “So hopefully enough people will use their heads,” Trump said, warning that a prolonged lapse in government funding would be “not a good thing for the country.”

{Matzav.com}