A plane takes off from the control tower at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on October 8, 2025.
Brendan Smialowski | AFP | fake images
American air traffic controllers have received partial paychecks, their union said Tuesday, and could miss their next paychecks entirely if the government shutdown lasts another two weeks.
“The job is already stressful enough. Now you add this factor of 'Hey, when am I getting my next paycheck?'” said Raymond Dahlstrom, an air traffic controller.
Dahlstrom and some of his colleagues handed out leaflets outside LaGuardia Airport in New York on Tuesday to urge the public to ask lawmakers to end the shutdown. Air traffic controllers were also scheduled to hand out informational brochures at other airports in Washington, D.C., and Chicago on Tuesday.
The government shut down on October 1 because the Senate failed to pass a bill to fund it. Air traffic controllers and airport security inspectors are among the thousands of government employees who must work despite not receiving pay during the impasse.
Last week, a shortage of air traffic controllers caused delays at airports, including those in Nashville, Tennessee, and Burbank, California, although most facilities were sufficiently staffed.
“We keep showing up, no one says they're sick… other than they're sick,” Dahlstrom said. He said some drivers are taking second jobs, such as driving for ride-sharing companies, to help make ends meet while not receiving pay.
A more than month-long shutdown that began in late 2018 ended hours after a shortage of air traffic controllers crippled air travel in the New York area.
Even outside of the shutdown, the United States has been dealing with a shortage of trained air traffic controllers, which has periodically disrupted flights. Airline executives have pushed for more training initiatives and more modern technology for years.
But the government shutdown has also put increased attention on American aviation.
Some airports, including Las Vegas, New York City's three major airports and others, are refusing to air a video of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blaming the shutdown on Democrats, airport officials told CNBC on Tuesday.
