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 due to the federal government shutdown, managing thousands of daily flights.
The White House is exploring avenues to pay ATCs to avoid a repeat of 2019's air traffic disruptions, which contributed to ending a previous shutdown.
Working without pay is exacerbating an existing controller shortage, causing immense stress, and leading to a significant increase in flight delays attributed to staffing issues.
Finding the estimated $500 million per month to pay ATCs is challenging, requiring either congressional funding reallocation or a potentially legally contested executive order.

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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.