‘Pressure Is Real’: ATCs Prepare for $0 Paycheck

Per Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, staffing has accounted for more than the typical 5 percent of air travel delays in October.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 07:00 AM ET

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Jack Daleo

The Transportation Department warned that it may have to close sections of U.S. airspace due to a shortage of air traffic controllers. [Courtesy: iStock/JasonDoiy]

Key Takeaways:

Air traffic controllers (ATCs) are working without pay due to a 28-day government shutdown, causing severe financial hardship for an already overburdened and understaffed workforce.
The lack of pay and stress on ATCs has led to a significant increase in flight delays attributed to staffing issues, spiking from a typical 5% to as high as 53%.
The shutdown is jeopardizing the future pipeline of ATCs, with trainees leaving and funding for their stipends running out, threatening to worsen the existing shortage of certified controllers.

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The country’s already overburdened workforce of about 13,000 air traffic controllers (ATCs) is preparing for its first $0 paychecks since the federal government shut down 28 days ago.

Speaking at LaGuardia Airport (KLGA) on Tuesday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reissued his call for ATCs to show up for work after earlier this month threatening to fire those who call out sick.