The head of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) sounded the alarm Monday on mounting resignations and absenteeism among U.S. air traffic controllers amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.
In a press conference at the union’s Washington, D.C., headquarters, NATCA president Nick Daniels said only a handful of controllers had formally resigned so far—“four to five that had already resigned and growing by the day.” According to Daniels, the full tally of controllers leaving via retirement or early exit due to the shutdown remains unknown.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy echoed Daniels’ comments during a Sunday interview with CNN. Before the shutdown, an average of four controllers retired a day, he said, but that number has now jumped to 15 to 20 per day.
Daniels said that controllers are showing up daily to manage the National Airspace System, but the absence of pay and growing financial stress are exacting a toll.
“Every day that this shutdown goes on…an air traffic controller had to survive 41 days with financial insecurity,” he said.
The stress and uncertainty, Daniels said, make it increasingly difficult for highly trained professionals to perform the “100-percent” focus required.
According to Daniels, the workforce shortfall at many facilities has been serious for some time.
“We’re 3,800 certified professional controllers short,” he said, “[and] 91 percent of our facilities do not have the proper staffing.”
He noted that many controllers are working six-day workweeks of 10-hour shifts.
The union leader placed the blame squarely on the political stalemate, saying Congress must act immediately to pass a continuing resolution that opens the government and guarantees that affected workers are made whole.
“Congress must pass a clean continuing resolution (CR) to immediately end the government shutdown [and] ensure that all individuals who have not been paid during this prolonged closure receive their compensation,” he said.
Daniels also warned of longer-term consequences for hiring and retention of controllers. The training pipeline is lengthy and complex, he said, meaning that losses now could have ripple effects for years to come.
“This is a system that cannot just flip a light switch,” he said, pointing out that when controllers leave, backfilling them takes time.
As of Monday, the federal government shutdown has entered its 41st day with no full appropriations bill signed into law. However, the Senate took a key procedural step late Sunday by advancing a stopgap funding measure.
On Sunday, U.S. airlines canceled more than 2,700 flights, and tracking data show over 10,000 additional delays. General aviation flights have also been restricted at several airports.
