Airports across America are in trouble. Planes are sitting on the ground for hours. Travelers are stuck, missing weddings, funerals, and family time. Why? Because we don’t have enough air traffic controllers on the job. These brave workers are being forced to work without pay because of a government shutdown—and our country is paying the price.
Let’s be clear. Air travel is not a luxury in today’s America—it is a necessity. Families travel to care for loved ones, businessmen fly to keep the economy strong, and our military and emergency services rely on clear skies and safe landings. But now, chaos is growing in our skies.
This past Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, had to slow flights across the country. In Orlando, planes were delayed over two hours. In Washington, D.C., folks waited over 90 minutes. Even in Texas, delays stacked up. More than 6,000 flights were delayed in just one day. Over 1,000 flights were canceled. Think about that—thousands of families and workers disrupted because our government can’t get its act together.
The problem is simple: we don’t have enough air traffic controllers, and the ones we do have aren’t being paid. Since the shutdown began on October 1, over 13,000 controllers have been working without a paycheck. These men and women are the guardians of our airways. They keep our skies safe. But now, many of them are taking second jobs just to pay for gas and groceries. Some are asking for donations. This is not how a great nation treats its workers.
Before the shutdown, the FAA was already short 3,500 controllers. That’s bad enough. Now, many of those who remain are working six days a week, putting in long hours under great stress. The result is fewer flights, longer waits, and more danger. And yet, the federal government expects them to keep working without any pay. That’s not right.
This isn’t just an inconvenience. It’s a threat to our way of life. The air traffic system is one of the most complex in the world. It requires alert minds and steady hands. We cannot ask tired, stressed, and unpaid workers to manage the skies safely. That’s how accidents happen.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has spoken up about the problem. He warned that air traffic controllers are about to miss a second paycheck. He says 22 major locations are short-staffed and that more delays are likely. He’s right. But warnings are not enough. We need action.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the union that represents these workers, says the shutdown is dangerous. And they are right. There is no strike. There is no rebellion. These hardworking Americans are still doing their jobs—without pay. But how long can they keep it up?
The shutdown is also hurting the economy. The travel industry says we are losing a billion dollars every week. That’s money not spent in hotels, restaurants, and shops. That’s jobs lost and families hurt. All because politicians can’t find common ground.
America is better than this. We are a nation built on hard work, family, and order. When our government fails to honor those values, the people suffer. It is time for Congress to put aside the games and restore funding to the FAA and the rest of the government. Our skies—and our country—cannot afford to wait.
We must return to the principles that built this nation: responsibility, respect for labor, and a commitment to safety. The air traffic controllers have done their part. Now it’s time for the government to do theirs. Let’s restore order to the skies and dignity to the workers who guard them.
