Thousands of U.S. Flights Delayed as Government Shutdown Disrupts Air Travel

More than 4,000 flights across the United States were delayed on Monday, with at least 118 cancellations, as the 27-day government shutdown continued to cripple the nation’s air travel network.

The delays follow mounting staff shortages at airports and air traffic control towers nationwide. On Sunday alone, over 8,700 flights were delayed, according to FlightAware, as thousands of unpaid federal workers struggled to keep operations running.

Roughly 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are currently working without pay, creating widespread operational strain.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cited staffing issues affecting flights across the Southeast U.S. and at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. At Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), the FAA imposed a ground delay that held flights for an average of 25 minutes.

“They got their notice on Thursday and Friday. They get a notice of what they are going to be paid on Tuesday. And they got a big fat ‘no paycheck is coming on Tuesday,’” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told Fox News on Sunday.

Duffy described the toll on air traffic controllers, saying, “I’ve been out talking to them, and you can see the stress. These are people who often live paycheck to paycheck—they’re worried about gas in the car and childcare.”

The Transportation Department warned that while flights continue to operate, delays and cancellations will persist as the shutdown drags on. Airlines have urged passengers to check flight statuses frequently and prepare for longer security wait times.

Experts also caution that even after the shutdown ends, clearing the backlog of delayed flights could take time as staffing shortages and operational bottlenecks persist.

Major airport hubs across the country are bracing for continued disruption, with no immediate resolution to the federal impasse in sight.