Shutdown Spurs ATC Gaps, 8,000 Delays on Sunday

Published on Oct 27, 2025, 12:34 pm CDT

4 min read

Key points

Controller absences tied to the government shutdown caused more than 8,600 U.S. flight delays on Sunday
FAA reported staffing issues at 22 facilities leading to delays and cancellations
As of Monday 8:20 a.m. ET more than 800 U.S. flights were delayed and about 360 were canceled
Ground stops were issued at Houston IAH and Newark EWR with significant delays at Washington DCA and New York LGA
About 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers are working without pay
Officials warn disruptions could worsen into the holiday season citing 2019 shutdown impacts

A prolonged U.S. government shutdown is rippling through commercial aviation as air traffic control, ATC, facilities report rising absenteeism and fatigue among personnel working without pay. On October 26, 2025, FlightAware tallied more than 8,600 delays across the United States. By Monday morning, October 27, delays were mounting again as the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, used traffic-management programs to slow arrivals at key hubs. For travelers, the upshot is longer taxi-out queues, reduced arrival rates, and sporadic ground stops that can cascade into missed connections.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The FAA confirmed multiple staffing "triggers" over the weekend and into Monday, including a temporary ground stop for Los Angeles International Airport, along with recent ground actions at George Bush Intercontinental in Houston and Newark Liberty outside New York. Washington's Reagan National and New York's LaGuardia also reported significant delays on peak days. The agency reiterated that when staffing dips below safe thresholds, it spaces flights farther apart and meters arrivals, which preserves safety but reduces capacity.

Latest developments

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Saturday that ATC staffing shortfalls were recorded at 22 locations, among the highest daily counts since the shutdown began on October 1. On Sunday, the system absorbed more than 8,600 delays nationwide, followed by a fresh wave Monday that crossed 1,600 by midday. Some days during the shutdown have seen an unusually high share of delays attributed directly to controller absences, far above normal baselines. While weather and equipment issues still contribute to disruption, the present constraint is the availability of certified controllers to fully staff facilities, particularly approach controls in busy metro areas.

Analysis

For travelers, the pattern is clear: reduced arrival rates at ATC facilities translate to slower-than-scheduled operations even in clear weather. Because the constraint is staffing, not runway condition, delays can pop up with little notice and persist beyond local storms. To preserve connection buffers, book longer layovers than usual, choose earlier bank times, and favor nonstop flights to eliminate misconnect risk. If you are already ticketed, monitor airline apps closely and consider moving to flights earlier in the day, when recovery options are more numerous.

Airlines and airports cannot control ATC staffing, but they can help you work around it. Many carriers are waiving same-day change fees when delay programs are in effect. If you are traveling this week, check for a proactive change option in your booking, verify minimum connection times, and download your airline's mobile app for push alerts. When a ground stop or ground delay program is underway at your origin or connection, expect gate holds, aircraft swaps, and crew-time constraints that can ripple beyond the affected city.

Background

ATC facilities are staffed by certified professional controllers who handle specific slices of airspace, from en-route centers to terminal approach control. When a shutdown suspends pay across key agencies, including the FAA and the Transportation Security Administration, staff must still report to duty, but the rate of call-outs typically rises as financial strain grows. To keep safety margins intact, the FAA reduces the number of aircraft handled per hour. That preserves separation but creates delays and missed connections downstream. During the 35-day shutdown in 2019, a spike in absences forced New York-area traffic to be slowed, which in turn pressured lawmakers to resolve funding; current conditions are trending in that direction as the holiday travel window approaches.

If you want a day-by-day look at where delays are clustering, our rolling coverage in Flight Delays and Airport Impacts: October 27, 2025 tracks FAA programs and airline advisories in one place.

Final thoughts

The government shutdown is now a primary driver of flight disruption in the U.S., and its operational effects are most visible in ATC-related delay programs. Until funding resumes, travelers should plan for extended block times, protect connections, and stay flexible on routing. Keep ATC staffing and "shutdown" in mind as you evaluate schedules for the next few weeks.