Sec. Duffy Warns Flight Delays as ATC Strains in Shutdown

Published on Nov 3, 2025, 10:38 am CST

4 min read

Key points

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said safety-driven delays and cancellations will continue during the shutdown
FAA facilities report widespread staffing shortfalls with controllers working without pay
Newark saw a ground stop and delay programs that rippled to JFK and LaGuardia
If the shutdown persists for one to two weeks the situation could worsen materially
Travelers should build longer connection buffers and monitor airline alerts

Impact

Expect Longer Queues And Holds: Plan for ground stops and delay programs at major hubs where staffing triggers are hit
Pad Connections: Add 60–90 minutes for tight bank-to-bank connections at congested airports
Monitor Airline And FAA Alerts: Check carrier apps and the FAA OIS before leaving for the airport
Use Flexible Policies: Leverage change-fee waivers or no-cost rebooking if your itinerary is affected
Consider Alternate Airports: Where practical, reroute through less constrained hubs to reduce misconnect risk

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Department of Transportation will "delay, [and] cancel" flights when necessary to protect safety as air traffic control staffing strains deepen during the federal government shutdown. He delivered the warning during Sunday interviews, adding that nearly half of major air traffic control facilities are short of personnel and that the picture could "get worse" if the stalemate lasts another one to two weeks.

FAA and hub impacts

Staffing shortfalls have already translated into operational constraints. On Sunday morning, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) cycled from a staffing-driven ground stop to a Ground Delay Program, with lengthy arrival and departure queues that spilled over to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA). Local and national outlets reported average delays ranging from roughly 40 minutes to multi-hour peaks as metering took effect.

The FAA has acknowledged broad strain across the system, noting that controller call-outs and extended shifts around Halloween week stressed about half of the country's largest airports, with New York-area facilities among the hardest hit.

What Duffy said

Duffy emphasized that safety is the overriding constraint, stating he would slow or even "shutter" parts of the airspace if he believed risks were unacceptable. He also said the administration is trying to reallocate limited funds to critical operations, though there are hard limits without an enacted budget.

Pressed on the politics, Duffy defended the White House's position while blaming the opposition for leveraging the impasse. Regardless, his operational message to travelers was unambiguous, that delays and cancellations will be used as tools to reduce risk until staffing stabilizes.

Background

Air traffic controllers are designated essential, so they must report even during a shutdown, though pay can lapse after a specified period. Extended unpaid periods and overtime can drive fatigue, attrition risk, and increased sick calls, which in turn force the FAA to meter arrivals and departures through ground stops and delay programs. Those traffic management initiatives keep separation standards conservative, but they create longer taxi times, airborne holding, missed connections, and crew timeouts that cascade through the network. Recent episodes around New York show how quickly constraints at one hub can ripple to others.

Traveler strategy

If you are booked through congested hubs in the next two weeks, build in margin. Choose earlier flights in the day, avoid bank-to-bank connections under 90 minutes at New York-area airports, and watch for airline travel waivers that allow same-day or pre-departure changes at no fee. If you misconnect, ask the airline for endorsed rebooking on the next available flight or for a protected reroute via a less constrained hub. Check the FAA's real-time Operational Information System before leaving for the airport, and enable push alerts in your airline app for gate, time, and baggage-claim changes.

Final thoughts

The shutdown is injecting operational friction into already tight schedules. Until staffing stabilizes, expect precautionary metering at the busiest facilities and plan connections accordingly. Duffy's message was clear, that safety will drive deliberate slowdowns when needed.