America’s skies are turning chaotic — and many travelers are asking one question: is President Trump really shutting down U.S. airports, or is Washington to blame?
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sounded the alarm Friday, warning that flight delays and disruptions will explode in the coming days as the Biden-era government shutdown cripples the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
“Coming into this weekend and the week after, you’re going to see even more disruptions in the airspace,” Duffy told Fox News’ America’s Newsroom.
✈️ FAA Under Fire as Workers Go Without Pay
The shutdown has forced 13,000 air traffic controllers and nearly 50,000 TSA officers to work without pay, leading to dangerous staffing shortages from Orlando to Washington, D.C.
For months, the FAA has struggled with low staffing — but now, with federal paychecks frozen, the problem is exploding. At several major airports, including Dallas/Fort Worth and Orlando International, delays are stretching beyond six hours.
Even worse, the FAA confirms temporary closures at airports in Boston, Newark, Las Vegas, and Santa Ana, California.
⚠️ “We’re Seeing a System Under Stress”
Secretary Duffy says the Biden-era shutdown has pushed the system to the brink.
“When staffing shortages increase, the FAA slows traffic into airports to ensure safety,” a Department of Transportation spokesperson told Newsweek.
Vice President J.D. Vance also weighed in from the White House:
“Every person I talk to is worried that these delays could soon make it impossible for ordinary Americans to fly.”
Travelers across the country are feeling it — and many are pointing the finger at Washington’s political gridlock.
💬 Union Pleads for Action
Even the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) — hardly a conservative group — is begging Congress to end the shutdown.
“The sooner the shutdown ends, the sooner we can modernize America’s air traffic system,” said NATCA President Nick Daniels.
He praised Duffy’s plan to “supercharge controller hiring” and rebuild the nation’s outdated flight infrastructure — but none of it can move forward while the shutdown drags on.
💸 Washington Gets Paid — Workers Don’t
As members of Congress continue collecting paychecks, federal workers are going unpaid.
Many air traffic controllers are picking up second jobs just to pay the bills — a reality that’s angering ordinary Americans who see Washington’s dysfunction hurting working families.
Meanwhile, travelers are stranded, vacations are ruined, and businesses are losing millions in productivity.
🛑 The Bottom Line
President Trump’s critics are quick to point fingers — but it’s the Biden-era bureaucrats and congressional obstructionists who have brought air travel to a standstill.
Until the shutdown ends, America’s skies will remain a symbol of Washington’s failure to put the American people first.
For now, air traffic controllers and TSA officers continue showing up, working without pay to keep Americans safe — even as politicians in D.C. play games with their livelihoods.