Shutdown Drives FAA Staffing Delays, Flight Disruptions

Published on Oct 28, 2025, 3:21 pm CDT

4 min read

Key points

Controller absences during the shutdown are driving ground stops and delay programs at major U.S. airports
More than 8,000 delays were logged Sunday, with thousands more Monday and Tuesday per FlightAware trend data
NATCA members leafleted at 22 airports as many controllers missed their first full paycheck on October 28

Impact

Who Is Affected: U.S. air travelers, airlines, FAA controllers, and TSA officers
What’s Happening: Controller absences are triggering ground stops and Ground Delay Programs, increasing delays and some cancellations
Where Impacts Are Concentrated: Major hubs including Newark Liberty, Dallas Fort Worth, Austin, Los Angeles and connected routes nationwide
When To Expect Disruptions: Through the week of October 28, 2025, and continuing while the shutdown persists
Why It Matters: Reduced staffing lowers airport arrival and departure rates, causing missed connections, longer taxi times, and operational ripple effects
How To Mitigate: Book earlier departures, pad connections, enable airline app alerts, and request no-fee same-day changes when delays escalate

The federal government shutdown is now forcing measurable slowdowns across the National Airspace System. By October 28, 2025, air traffic controller absences had triggered brief ground stops and Ground Delay Programs at several major hubs, including Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). FlightAware trend data showed more than 8,000 U.S. delays on Sunday, with thousands more Monday and early Tuesday as facilities struggled to staff critical positions without pay. Travelers should expect rolling programs, longer taxi-out queues, and tighter connection windows as the week unfolds.

Federal Aviation Administration, staffing and system flow

The Federal Aviation Administration's Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) listed staffing "triggers" in multiple regions, with programs added or extended as conditions evolved through October 27-28. FAA operations plans noted metering and delay programs affecting the evening banks at EWR and periodic holds tied to staffing at AUS and DFW, alongside routine weather and construction constraints. The FAA's public NAS Status site reflected potential and active programs through Monday evening, with additional staffing triggers added Tuesday.

On the West Coast, flights bound for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) briefly faced a ground stop Sunday due to facility staffing, underscoring how quickly constraints ripple when fewer certified controllers are on position. Average delays ranged from about 20 minutes at Dallas to 40 minutes at Newark and Austin during Monday's peak, with some departures waiting far longer at AUS after the ground stop lifted.

Latest developments

As of Monday, October 27, delays exceeded 2,700 nationwide, with more than 8,600 the day prior. Reuters' analysis, based on FlightAware counts and FAA statements, attributed an unusually high share of delays to controller absences-far above normal levels-while airlines warned of uneven operations if the shutdown persists. ATCSCC advisories issued late Monday and Tuesday showed additional staffing triggers added to the daily plan.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) said members would hand out informational leaflets at 22 airports this week, coinciding with the first missed full paycheck for many controllers. NATCA emphasized that pre-shutdown staffing was already below target levels, leaving less buffer to absorb sick calls and mandatory overtime.

Analysis

What changed: Controllers and Transportation Security Administration officers remain designated "essential," so flying continues, but unpaid shifts and rising absences are reducing the system's hourly acceptance rates at busy towers and approach facilities. That pushes hubs into Ground Delay Programs and occasional ground stops when demand exceeds the staff available to safely run the plan. For travelers, that translates into creeping departure holds, longer inbound spacing, and missed connections when one program cascades into the next.

How to adapt: If you are connecting through Newark Liberty, Dallas Fort Worth, or Austin-Bergstrom this week, rebook to longer connection windows where possible and aim for earlier flights in the day to preserve recovery options. Keep push alerts enabled, watch for same-day confirmed moves when your original flight slips past published minimum connection times, and leverage airline self-service tools before lines form. For a tactical day-of view of likely programs and airport constraints, see our rolling daily update, Flight Delays and Airport Impacts: October 28, 2025, and recent shutdown coverage, Shutdown Triggers FAA Staffing Delays at Key Airports.

Background: Air traffic control, ATC, balances safety and throughput. When staffing dips below plan, the ATCSCC reduces scheduled arrival and departure rates, meters flights with Expect Departure Clearance Times, and, in spikes, issues ground stops so flows do not exceed what facilities can safely handle. During prolonged shutdowns, unpaid workers historically show rising absences, which can force rate reductions at major hubs and ripple delays nationwide, a pattern already visible in late October counts.

Final thoughts

The government shutdown has shifted from a political impasse to a travel-planning variable. With FAA staffing triggers firing more often, travelers should build slack into itineraries and monitor apps closely. If Congress restores funding quickly, the system can recover within days, but each added day raises the odds of rolling programs and missed connections tied to controller availability.