How ATC Personnel Could Get Shutdown Pay

President Donald Trump is reportedly exploring ways to compensate essential workers during the government closure.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 03:04 PM ET

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Jack Daleo

Tens of thousands of air traffic controllers are working without pay during the government shutdown. [Courtesy: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Over 13,000 air traffic controllers are working without pay during the federal government shutdown, creating immense stress and leading to union concerns about increasingly unsafe working conditions.
The Trump administration is actively exploring avenues to pay these "excepted" personnel to prevent widespread air traffic disruptions, aiming to avoid a repeat of the 2019 shutdown's breaking point.
The lack of pay has already resulted in a "slight pickup" in controller sick calls and a significant increase in flight delays, with over half now attributed to staffing shortages compared to a usual five percent.

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Amid the federal government shutdown, more than 13,000 air traffic controllers (ATCs) continue to manage 35,000 flights per day without a paycheck. The White House reportedly is looking to change that.

Sources within and close to Donald Trump’s administration told Politico that the president is exploring avenues to pay ATCs and other “excepted” personnel while the shutdown continues. Those discussions have also seeped into the FAA, two sources said.