Controller Resignations ‘Growing by the Day,’ Union Says

‘Four to five’ have bowed out so far.

Ryan Ewing

Monday, November 10, 2025 at 12:06 PM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport [Credit: Mark Stebnicki/Pexels]

Key Takeaways:

The ongoing federal government shutdown is causing a significant increase in resignations and retirements among U.S. air traffic controllers, exacerbating an already severe staffing shortage of 3,800 certified professionals.
Controllers are experiencing intense financial stress and difficulty maintaining the critical focus required for their jobs due to working without pay, raising concerns about aviation safety and operational efficiency.
NATCA is urging Congress to immediately pass a clean continuing resolution to end the shutdown, ensure controllers are paid, and prevent further long-term damage to the air traffic control system, which is already experiencing thousands of flight cancellations and delays.

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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.