Air traffic controllers who duck unpaid work during the shutdown could be fired, Duffy warns

"Even though the U.S. has a stark shortage of air traffic controllers, ones who call in sick instead of working without a paycheck during the federal government shutdown risk being fired, the U.S. transportation secretary warned. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this week that he understands the controllers' frustrations and worries. But during an appearance Thursday on Fox Business, he said that by calling in sick they are causing major disruptions to air traffic, and it won't be tolerated."

"If we have some of our staff that aren't dedicated like we need, we'll let them go, Duffy said, noting that more than 90% of controllers have been showing up to work during the shutdown. It's a small fraction of people who don't come to work. They can create this massive disruption. And that's what you're seeing rippling through our skies today."

The U.S. is experiencing a severe shortage of air traffic controllers, and some are calling in sick during the federal government shutdown. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that controllers who skip work instead of working without pay risk being fired, while noting more than 90% continue to report for duty. A small number of no-shows is producing widespread delays at smaller airports such as Burbank and Nashville and at major hubs including Newark, Chicago, Denver, and Dallas-Fort Worth. The FAA's critical staffing gap magnifies disruptions. Duffy is prioritizing increased hiring and officials say deliberate absences will carry consequences; the controllers' union urges members to keep working.

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