Transportation department warns US may close parts of airspace if shutdown continues next week

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Tuesday told reporters that his department may need to close some U.S. airspace next week if the government shutdown continues, because of a lack of air traffic controllers.

The department has seen a high number of air traffic controllers call in sick amid the shutdown because they are required to work without immediate compensation. Airports and airlines nationwide have also been complaining about staffing shortages and delayed flights because of the shutdown, including airports in California, Colorado and New Jersey. 

Duffy warned that if the shutdown does not end by Nov. 11 then the country's air travel system will see "mass chaos," which could cause further flight delays or cancellations heading into some of the busiest travel times of the year. 

"So if you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos," Duffy said during a news briefing. "You will see mass flight delays. You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace because we just cannot manage it, because we don’t have the air traffic controllers. 

"Make no mistake, the longer this goes on, every day these hardworking Americans have bills they have to pay, they’re being forced to make decisions and choices," the secretary continued. "Do they go to work as an air traffic controller, or do they have to find a different job to get resources, money, to put food on their table, to put gas in their car?"

The comments come as air traffic controllers are expected to miss their second paycheck next week. Duffy noted that a lot of government workers can afford to miss one paycheck but not two.

More than 3,000 flights within, into, or out of the United States have been delayed so far on Tuesday, according to FlightAware, and 100 such flights have been canceled. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.