FAA Flight Delays: Trump Admin Gives Air Travel Update Amid Government Shutdown

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Wednesday that it will reduce air traffic by 10 percent across 40 major U.S. markets starting Friday morning to maintain safety amid the ongoing government shutdown.

The agency is facing growing staffing shortages as air traffic controllers continue to work without pay, with an increasing number calling out sick, resulting in widespread flight delays. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency “can’t ignore” the strain on the system and will act before safety is compromised.

“We’re not going to wait for a problem to act,” Bedford said.

Bedford and Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy plan to meet with airline executives later Wednesday to discuss how to implement the reductions safely and minimize disruptions for travelers.

Newsweek reached out to the FAA and DOT via email on Wednesday afternoon for further comment.

Why It Matters

Air traffic controller staffing was already a serious issue facing American air travel before the government shutdown, with Duffy outlining plans to modernize technology and increase staffing earlier this year. The shutdown has added to the problem, however, with ATCs going without paychecks while lawmakers are unable to reach a deal to reopen the government.

Sean Duffy Announces Capacity Reduction at Airports: What We Know

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Duffy said that many air traffic controllers were the heads of their households, and going without pay was not sustainable for them.

“Tomorrow, they get a pay stub email on what their next paycheck is going to be, and when that paystub comes out, that is also going to be zero,” Duffy said. “What we’re finding is, with our air traffic controllers, because of the financial pressures at home, are taking side jobs.”

As a result, ATCs have not been showing up to work at airports around the country, causing significant delays for travelers. Duffy said the DOT and FAA’s priority was to keep passengers safe, and that reducing flights was one way to achieve this.

Bedford said that there was growing fatigue across the system, prompting concern at the FAA over flight safety and rising delays.

The secretary did say that modernization efforts were underway, but that this would take time.

Which Airports Could Be Affected by the Reduction? 

Forty locations will be affected by the change, Duffy said Wednesday, explaining that they had been chosen based on data and the airlines that operate from them. Around 3,500 to 4,000 daily flights could be affected.

Further details on which specific airports would be affected were pending on Wednesday evening.

There have already been numerous delays at airports across the country—sometimes for hours—because the FAA temporarily slows or stops traffic whenever it is short on controllers. Last weekend saw some of the worst staffing shortages, and on Sunday, flights at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey were delayed for several hours.

Major airlines, aviation unions and the wider travel industry have been urging Congress to end the shutdown.

Are They Cutting FAA Staff?  

Duffy did not suggest that FAA staff were being reduced, instead saying that ATCs had been choosing to take paid work outside their airport roles while the government shutdown continues.

The DOT has been trying to address staffing shortages for several months, with promises of enhanced training practices and modern technology to support ATCs in their roles once hired.

What People Are Saying

FAA administrator Bryan Bedford said on Wednesday: “I want to applaud the controllers who continue to come to work on a daily basis, keeping our system safe, but I also want to acknowledge that the data is showing us we need to do more. We are going to do more, and I want to reassure the American travelers that it is absolutely safe to fly in the American skies.”

New York Democratic Representative Dan Goldman, on X: “Trump’s shutdown has pushed our air traffic system to the brink. Half of all major airports are understaffed. Flights are delayed. Controllers are working unpaid double shifts. The GOP would rather ground our planes than make health care affordable for millions of Americans.”

What Happens Next

The FAA will be meeting with airlines to discuss logistics on Wednesday night. The restrictions will begin on Friday, November 7, with Duffy stating that a return to normal is not yet clear.

This article contains reporting by The Associated Press.

Update 11/5/25, 5:46 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.