Government Shutdown Sparks Major Flight Delays Across U.S. Airports
It’s been a rough weekend for travelers, especially for anyone flying through Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. The airport was placed under a ground delay program on Sunday, all because of staffing shortages in its air traffic control tower — a situation that’s being worsened by the ongoing federal government shutdown .
Now, to break that down — a “ground delay program” means that flights heading to Newark have to wait at their origin airports before taking off. It’s essentially a way to control the flow of incoming planes when an airport doesn’t have enough staff or space to handle them. And right now, Newark can only handle about 20 arrivals per hour , according to NYC Emergency Management. Normally, that number would be much higher.
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As a result, travelers are facing average delays of around two hours , with some flights delayed more than three. A few unlucky passengers might even experience longer waits if a full ground stop — meaning no incoming flights at all — is issued. Departing flights are also being affected since planes can’t leave until arrival gates are cleared, creating a frustrating domino effect for travelers.
What’s causing all this? Well, the government shutdown , now stretching past its 30th day, has meant that air traffic controllers and other essential aviation staff haven’t been paid in weeks. Many are still showing up to work, but others simply can’t afford to keep doing so without a paycheck. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy admitted over the weekend that things are “only going to get worse” if the shutdown drags on.
He explained that airports across the country — from Los Angeles to Dallas, D.C., Boston, Atlanta, and now Newark — are starting to feel the strain. Duffy said the administration won’t compromise safety, but acknowledged that “rolling delays” are happening and will likely increase. He added that if staffing or safety becomes too critical, air traffic may have to be stopped entirely .
With Thanksgiving travel just weeks away, the timing couldn’t be worse. Newark’s issues are already spilling over into LaGuardia and JFK , and the Federal Aviation Administration is monitoring several other airports that are reporting similar staffing shortages — including in Nashville, Jacksonville, Austin, and Denver.
Officials are urging passengers to check their flight status before leaving for the airport and to expect longer waits, possible gate changes, or even missed connections.
In short, what we’re seeing isn’t just a bad travel day — it’s a real glimpse of how the shutdown’s ripple effect is touching everyday lives. Delays, missed flights, and exhausted travelers are now part of a growing national headache — one that won’t ease until Washington finds a way to get the government back open and paychecks flowing again.
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