US Government Shutdown Exposes Critical Vulnerabilities in Nation's Fragile Aviation System

Experts indicate the disruptions serve as a reminder that the aviation system is already operating beyond its capacity. (File)

A concerning transmission was broadcast from an air traffic control tower near Los Angeles just days into the federal government shutdown: "The tower is closed due to staffing."

With insufficient air traffic controllers available to direct aircraft at Hollywood Burbank Airport, the tower ceased operations for nearly six hours on October 6, forcing pilots to coordinate movements among themselves. Flight delays averaged two-and-a-half hours, marking one of the earliest visible impacts of the shutdown on the nation's aviation infrastructure.

Since the shutdown commenced October 1, the Federal Aviation Administration has documented controller shortages across numerous U.S. cities, affecting airports in Boston and Philadelphia, as well as control centers in Atlanta and Houston. Flight delays have expanded to airports in Nashville, Dallas, Newark and beyond.

Additionally, there has been a rise in unplanned absences among security personnel at certain airports. The union representing Transportation Security Administration employees states that while these absences haven't yet caused significant disruptions, they cautioned that extended security checkpoint lines could soon materialize after workers received their final paychecks over the weekend.

Industry experts and union leaders emphasize that these disruptions highlight how the aviation system is already compromised by persistent understaffing and outdated technology. They caution that existing vulnerabilities in the system could rapidly worsen the longer the shutdown continues and critical aviation personnel remain without regular compensation.

"It's like having a drought the year after you had a drought," Greg Raiff, CEO of Elevate Aviation Group, told The Associated Press.

These issues aren't unprecedented. In 2019, the aviation system faltered under the pressure of a 35-day government shutdown—the longest in American history—during President Donald Trump's first administration.

Approximately three weeks into that shutdown, air traffic controllers, many working up to 60 hours weekly, filed litigation against the government regarding missed payments. One terminal at Miami International Airport was forced to suspend operations because security screeners were calling out sick in substantial numbers. Some even resigned from their positions.

"Here we are so many years later, and the problems have not been addressed," said aviation attorney Ricardo Martinez-Cid, a Florida Bar-certified expert on aviation law who frequently represents accident victims. "Now we're in a worse position when we had been put on notice. We had the opportunity to address it."

Since then, the nation has received multiple warnings. In January, a mid-air collision over the Potomac River involving a commercial aircraft and a military helicopter resulted in 67 fatalities. A series of equipment failures and radar outages this year further emphasized the necessity for system upgrades.

Prior to the current shutdown, both the FAA and TSA were already contending with staffing deficiencies. This includes a shortage of approximately 3,000 air traffic controllers.

Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, has indicated that staffing levels have reached a "critical" point, the lowest in decades. The shortage is so severe that even a few air traffic controllers missing work can disrupt operations at already understaffed facilities.

"And on top of that," he said, "they're working with unreliable equipment."

The shutdown began just as the FAA was beginning to make progress in addressing the controller shortage and modernizing the obsolete equipment they depend on that continues to disrupt flights when malfunctioning.

The agency reports exceeding its goal of hiring 2,000 controllers this year after streamlining the application process at its Oklahoma City academy, but eliminating the shortage will still require years. It had also just begun seeking companies to help oversee a $12.5 billion initiative to overhaul its aging and complex technological systems.

Now, the shutdown is delaying these much-needed improvements. Union leaders warn that staffing shortages may be more severe by the time government operations resume.

Johnny Jones, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Government Employees chapter representing TSA workers, expressed concern that the shutdown could prompt even more security screeners to depart the agency, particularly given the uncertainty workers have already faced this year, including the Trump administration's attempts to revoke their collective bargaining rights.

Daniels, meanwhile, cautioned that it could instill fear among newer controllers and trainees who might reconsider the profession entirely to avoid working during future shutdowns.

This is a persistent concern. Following the conclusion of the 35-day shutdown in 2019, a congressional committee hearing examined the impacts on air travel.

"All of these air traffic controllers and aviation safety professionals were used as pawns in a political fight that had nothing to do with aviation. This is wrong and must not be allowed to happen again," warned the union leader representing air traffic controllers at that time.

During the hearing, there were bipartisan calls for reform to maintain FAA funding "without interruption, even when the rest of the government shuts down," as one lawmaker stated. Stories emerged of controllers and TSA agents taking additional jobs to cover rent, mortgage, and other expenses despite working extended shifts to address staffing gaps.

Lawmakers and industry officials who testified concurred: The shutdown compromised aviation system safety.

"We implore all involved, please heed not only our warnings but the entire stakeholder community's warnings. This vicious budgetary cycle of stops and starts with little to no stability or predictably has simply got to stop," said Nick Calio, then-president and CEO of Airlines for America, an industry trade group representing airlines including Delta, United and Southwest.

Yet seven years later, the system remains vulnerable to shutdowns, Martinez-Cid noted.

"We're long overdue for a wake-up call."