Is the US government shutdown making flying more dangerous?

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has acknowledged growing risks to US air travel as the shutdown continues into its second month. He said that while the system remains safe for now, the prolonged disruption is adding strain. “If we thought that it was unsafe, we’ll shut the whole airspace down,” Duffy told CNBC on Monday.

The US government shutdown has now entered its sixth week, making it one of the longest in recent years. The standoff between lawmakers has frozen large parts of the federal system and left thousands of essential employees working without pay. Among the hardest hit are air traffic controllers and aviation safety workers, raising questions about whether air travel is becoming less safe as the shutdown drags on.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has slowed operations at several airports due to staff shortages, with controllers working without pay since October 1. The impact is spreading: Newark Liberty International Airport was forced to halt flights temporarily, and data from FlightAware shows 9% of flights were canceled and 36% delayed on Sunday.

More than 3.2 million passengers have faced cancellations or delays linked to the shutdown. Airlines are struggling to plan for the Thanksgiving rush, and the US Travel Association estimates the travel economy has already lost over $4 billion. “The consequences of a continued shutdown will be immediate, deeply felt by millions of American travelers,” the association warned in a letter to Congress.

Speaking on Face the Nation, Duffy admitted that staff shortages add “more risk” to the aviation system but maintained that safety remains the top priority. “We will slow and stop traffic if we don’t think we can manage it in a way that keeps people safe as they go point A to B,” he said. Major airports in Los Angeles, Dallas, Boston, and Atlanta are already facing rolling delays.

FAA data shows that nearly half of the 30 busiest control facilities were understaffed last week, while 80% of controllers in the New York region were absent. Nationwide, over 6,200 flights were delayed and nearly 500 canceled on Friday alone.

Although performance improved slightly at the start of this week, disruptions persisted at airports in Austin and Dallas later in the day. In Houston, passengers at George Bush Intercontinental and William P. Hobby airports reported waits as long as five hours for security screening.

Duffy said his department has limited options to relieve the situation and urged lawmakers to reopen the government. “Open the government up. Let’s pay these people,” he said, noting that many controllers have missed two consecutive paychecks. “They’re making life decisions they shouldn’t have to make.”

With the shutdown dragging on, the US aviation system remains operational but under heavy stress. While officials insist that safety will not be compromised, continued staff shortages are stretching the system’s capacity and leaving travelers to bear the consequences.