Government Shutdown Puts Pressure on Air Traffic Controllers as Paychecks Halt
As the government shutdown persists, air traffic controllers are grappling with the stress of working without pay. The critical role they play in ensuring flight safety is becoming increasingly challenging without financial compensation.
LEILA FADEL, HOST:
Flight operations across the United States are facing disruptions due to the ongoing shutdown.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Despite not receiving payment, air traffic controllers must continue to work, and many are finding it more difficult to manage the demands of their roles under these conditions.
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JOE SEGRETTO: The pressure is real. We have people trying to keep these airplanes safe. We have trainees trying to learn a new job that is very fast-paced, very stressful, very complex, now having to worry about how they’re going to pay bills.
In New York, air traffic controller Joe Segretto highlights the mounting pressures faced by him and his colleagues. Meanwhile, in Atlanta, Wardell Williams speaks to the challenges of maintaining everyday life amid financial uncertainty.
WARDELL WILLIAMS: It’s horrible. We’ve still got lives to live. We’ve still got mouths to feed, day care, roofs over our head, things that we need to pay for.
FADEL: To explore this further, we spoke with NPR’s Joel Rose. Hi, Joel.
JOEL ROSE, BYLINE: Hey, Leila.
FADEL: So air traffic controllers are speaking out more publicly now. Is this common?
ROSE: It’s quite rare, indicating the growing strain as the shutdown extends. Controllers nationwide have begun to engage the public directly, distributing flyers at airports and urging Congress to resolve the shutdown. The union reports some controllers have resorted to second jobs in the gig economy, such as driving for Uber or working in food services, to make ends meet. Although a small segment, it’s adding undue stress across the board. Additionally, the Transportation Department has noted a rise in sick calls from controllers.
FADEL: How is this situation affecting passengers?
ROSE: While isolated delays have occurred at airports like Los Angeles, Washington, Dallas, Atlanta, and Newark, overall delays have not significantly increased beyond typical figures. Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, reports that about 20% of flights are generally delayed by over 15 minutes for various reasons, and this hasn’t surged since the shutdown began. Concerns persist about potential impacts if the shutdown continues and more paychecks are missed. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy addressed this at LaGuardia Airport, stating,
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SEAN DUFFY: Many of our controllers can make it without this first paycheck. They’ve been in the job for, you know, 10, 15, 20 years. They’ve planned for days like this. But I’ll tell you this – almost every controller can’t make it without two paychecks.
Already facing a deficit of over 3,000 certified controllers, the system is stretched thin, with many working six-day weeks and mandatory overtime. Even a small increase in sick calls could significantly disrupt this delicate balance.
FADEL: Is it still safe for passengers to fly?
ROSE: Yes, according to the FAA and Department of Transportation, flight safety remains their utmost priority. They are prepared to limit air traffic if necessary to prevent system overload. Thus, while flying remains safe, travelers should expect more delays and disruptions as the shutdown persists.
FADEL: NPR’s transportation correspondent Joel Rose. Thank you, Joel.
ROSE: You’re welcome.
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