Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Sunday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth offered air traffic controllers from reserves amid a shortage during the government shutdown. “I had a text from the secretary of War,

The government has been short of air traffic controllers for years. The shutdown is only making it worse, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Sunday.

The FAA has issued a ground delay for flights arriving at Nashville International Airport® (BNA®) due to an air traffic control staffing shortage.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Sunday that “15 to 20” air traffic controllers are retiring daily amid the government shutdown. “I used to have about four controllers retire a day before the shutdown.

A surge in callouts among air traffic controllers "is straining staffing levels" at multiple airports across the U.S. -- including in the New York City area where 80% of controllers are absent, the Federal Aviation Administration said Friday evening.

Colorado lawmakers are pushing for the Federal Aviation Administration to approve Denver International Airport's emergency waiver that would allow air traffic controllers to be paid during the shutdown.

Did U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy say in a Fox News interview in November 2025 that "Pilots need to stop depending on air traffic controllers. They need to suck it up and go with their gut feelings"?

Passengers on flights canceled due to the FAA order are entitled to a refund from the airline. While Knoxville's airport is not on the reduction list, travelers to and from 40 major hubs could be affected.