Updated October 8, 2025 at 4:47 AM PDT

Travelers across the U.S. are beginning to feel the impacts of the government shutdown, as air traffic control staffing shortages disrupt flights across the country.

Twelve Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) facilities saw staffing shortages on Monday, according to an evening advisory from the agency — followed by another roughly half dozen on Tuesday.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy held a Monday press conference at one of them, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, where he blamed the nationwide delays on a "slight tick-up in sick calls" by air traffic control workers.

Duffy said controllers are concerned about working without pay during the shutdown, with some considering taking on second jobs, like calling in sick to d

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