Political Stalemate Halts Flights as FAA Staffing Shortages Echo 2019 Disruptions

On Sunday morning, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily suspended flights heading to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) because of a shortage of staff at a Southern California air traffic control center, adding to the chaos already caused by the ongoing government shutdown, now in its 23rd day. The ground stop, which started at 11:42 a.m. Eastern, resulted in average departure delays of 1 hour and 40 minutes. The FAA anticipated lifting the order by 1:30 p.m., but cautioned that delays might continue, according to a

. Staffing shortages also led to disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport, Southwest Florida International Airport, and Teterboro Airport, the .

According to Fortune, the FAA reported 22 "staffing triggers" in the past day—one of the highest counts since the shutdown began—highlighting the increasing pressure on air traffic controllers, who are currently working without pay. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told Fox News that financial hardship is causing more controllers to call in sick, a trend also documented by

.

The shutdown has forced 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers to continue working without pay, raising alarms about the sustainability of operations. Even before the shutdown, the FAA was already short by 3,500 controllers, with many required to work overtime and six days a week, as reported by

. Data from FlightAware indicated that more than 6,100 flights were delayed nationwide on Thursday, with staffing problems accounting for 53% of those delays—far above the usual 5%, .

This scenario is reminiscent of the 2019 shutdown, which caused similar problems and ultimately led lawmakers to resolve a 35-day standoff. Both unions and airlines are once again urging a quick end to the crisis, with the air traffic controllers union condemning the "impossible choices" workers face between paying for rent or groceries, a point previously raised by U.S. News. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) placed blame on Democrats for the deadlock, while White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt warned of "major flight delays" in the near future, echoing concerns from Reuters.

Efforts in Congress to resolve the issue have stalled. Senate Republicans have proposed legislation to pay controllers, but the bill lacks support from Democrats, according to

. At the same time, the Trump administration is said to be considering alternative funding options, such as reallocating money from other departments, but no definitive plan has been announced, . Secretary Duffy has also warned of possible disciplinary measures for controllers who misuse sick leave, though union officials insist that safety should remain the top priority, as reported by .

With controllers expected to miss their first complete paycheck on October 28, the urgency for congressional action is growing. "We can't let Democrats use our airports as bargaining chips," said Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas), whose proposal to fund controller pay is awaiting a Senate vote, Politico reported. For now, travelers must prepare for continued uncertainty as the aviation industry stands on the brink between stability and crisis.