Airlines say looming US government shutdown could cripple FAA training and strain aviation network
September 30, 2025
As the United States edges towards the possibility of another federal government shutdown, airlines and industry groups are sounding the alarm over the potential impact on the national aviation system.
The concern is not only about immediate disruption to passengers, but also about the longer-term strain on safety, staffing and system modernisation if federal funding dries up.
US air traffic control system is already under pressure
America’s air traffic control (ATC) system has been running under pressure for years. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has acknowledged it is currently short by around 3,800 controllers compared with target staffing levels.
That deficit has already contributed to delays and placed extra stress on those who remain in the towers and centres managing the world’s busiest skies.
Against this backdrop, industry groups say a government shutdown would make matters significantly worse. While “excepted” employees such as controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners would continue working, they would do so without pay until funding is restored.
Previous shutdowns have shown how quickly this can sap morale, increase absenteeism, and create bottlenecks at airports.
FAA training and hiring halted during shutdown
Perhaps the most damaging consequence, the airlines argue, is the halt in training new air traffic controllers. At a time when the FAA is trying to expand and modernise its workforce, even a short pause in training can have ripple effects lasting years.
Training controllers is a lengthy process, typically taking two to three years before a recruit is fully certified. Losing weeks or months to a funding gap could delay the pipeline of new talent and keep the system operating at reduced capacity long after the shutdown ends.
Similarly, shutdowns suspend safety inspections, certification work, and progress on critical infrastructure programmes. From runway upgrades to the FAA’s NextGen modernisation effort, projects that depend on steady federal funding are vulnerable to delay.
Industry leaders warn that this not only slows the pace of improvement but can also increase costs as contractors are forced to down tools and then restart.
Airlines for America issues government shutdown warning
The trade association Airlines for America, which represents major carriers including American, Delta, United and Southwest, has been particularly vocal.
Backed by the Modern Skies Coalition, it has warned that every shutdown, or even the threat of one, introduces instability into a system that thrives on predictability and precision.
In a statement, the coalition said: “Even brief funding lapses can have long-lasting effects on the National Airspace System. Training is suspended, certification work is delayed, and essential modernisation projects are put on hold. The result is a less resilient, less efficient aviation network.”
Lessons from past shutdowns
The most recent prolonged shutdown, in 2018-19, ran for 35 days and created visible disruption at airports. Security queues lengthened as unpaid TSA staff called in sick in large numbers, while the suspension of training exacerbated staffing shortages that are still being felt today. Airlines argue that a repeat, even on a smaller scale, could undo much of the progress made since then.
For passengers, the most visible effects would likely be delays, cancellations and longer queues at airports if staffing falters. For the industry, the concern is more structural: the United States risks losing ground in safety innovation and efficiency compared with other regions that maintain uninterrupted investment.
With air travel rebounding strongly after the pandemic, the timing could hardly be worse. A shutdown would not only hit airlines’ operational reliability but also threaten the country’s reputation as the world’s most advanced aviation market.
