Airport Chaos: US Shutdown Sparks Ground Stop at Newark as Unpaid Controllers Call Out

The month-long US federal government shutdown is now causing chaos in the nation's skies. On Sunday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was forced to issue a ground stop at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), a major hub for New York City, due to "staffing shortages."

The FAA is warning of average delays at Newark exceeding three hours, with disruptions likely to cascade into Monday.

The crisis stems from the nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers who, as "essential" federal workers, are required to be on duty but are not being paid. As the shutdown enters its second month, an increasing number of controllers are reportedly calling out, creating dangerous staffing gaps.

Half of the 30 major US airports are now reporting similar shortages. On Saturday, this led to over 4,500 flight delays and 500 outright cancellations, according to FlightAware.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told ABC on Sunday that the FAA would "make sure people are safe" but warned of the dangers. "There is a level of risk that gets injected into the system when we have a controller that's doing two jobs instead of one," he said.

Secretary Duffy highlighted the immense stress on the unpaid workforce. "They don't make a lot of money," he said. "They have to make a decision, do I go to work and not get a paycheque... Or do I drive for Uber or DoorDash or wait tables?"

The FAA echoed the safety concerns, stating it has had to "reduce the flow of air traffic to maintain safety" and called on lawmakers to end the shutdown so workers can "receive the pay they've earned."

The political impasse remains unbroken. A Republican-led funding bill has repeatedly failed in the Senate. Democrats are refusing to pass a bill that does not also extend expiring healthcare tax credits for millions of Americans and reverse President Donald Trump's cuts to the Medicaid program.

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