by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 9:15 AM ET, Tue September 30, 2025
Airlines are warning Americans that the looming partial government shutdown that would begin on October 1 would impact air traffic controllers, causing them to work without pay, straining capacity and slowing flights.
If the government shuts down, approximately 50,000 Transportation Security Administration employees along with air traffic controllers, would be required to work without pay.
According to Reuters, the airline trade group Airlines for America, which represents United, Delta, American, Southwest and others, warned “the system may need to slow down, reducing efficiency” in the wake of a shutdown.
The last government shutdown occurred for 35 days back in 2019, during the previous Trump Administration. Air traffic controllers and TSA officers absenting themselves from unpaid work slowed security checkpoint times and slowed air traffic in New York especially.
A different letter, penned in cooperation between airline associations, aviation unions, manufacturers, airports and others warned a shutdown would force the FAA to "suspend air traffic controller and technician hiring and training, delay the implementation of safety initiatives, postpone maintenance and repair work to critical air traffic equipment, suspend air carrier pilot check rides, delay airworthy inspections for aircraft, defer the analysis of voluntary safety reporting, and suspend work on modernization programs."
This current government shutdown would also, according to the U.S. Travel Association, cost the nation’s travel and tourism $1 billion a week, due to disruptions to rail and air travel, along with the closures of national parks and museums.
Should the government shut down tomorrow, travelers are advised to arrive at the airport significantly earlier than typical to deal with longer lines and slower security, especially when traveling internationally.
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