Why the FAA Could Face Major Disruptions in Shutdown

Here’s a detailed look at what will and won’t be affected at the agency as a potential government closure approaches on October 1.

Meg Godlewski

Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

FAA insignia on a laptop [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

A government shutdown starting October 1 will lead to the furlough of thousands of FAA employees and a curtailment of many agency operations.
Essential services like air traffic control, check rides by Designated Pilot Examiners, airmen medical certifications, and maintenance of navigational aids will continue.
Non-critical functions, including air traffic controller hiring and field training, aviation rulemaking, and the development of next-generation technologies, will be paused or significantly affected.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The government may shut down in less than a week as it runs out of funds at midnight on Wednesday, October 1.

In broad strokes, that means government-funded entities—like the Department of Transportation (DOT), which includes the FAA—won’t be financially supported and will be curtailing operations until a budget can be established. How long that takes is up to the lawmakers in Washington, D.C.