‘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 are facing $0 paychecks due to the 28-day federal government shutdown, creating extreme financial hardship and stress for an already understaffed workforce.
The lack of pay and increased stress are causing a significant rise in flight delays attributed to ATC staffing issues, spiking from a normal 5% to as high as 53%.
The shutdown is jeopardizing the future ATC workforce pipeline, as trainees are abandoning programs due to unpaid instructors, lack of stipends, and the prospect of working without pay, undermining crucial hiring goals.

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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.