Duffy ‘can’t guarantee’ that flights won’t be delayed, canceled during shutdown

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Thursday said flights may be delayed or canceled during the government shutdown because of a shortage of air traffic controllers.

The shortage existed before the shutdown but has been exacerbated by some air traffic controllers calling out of work since they’re not getting paid.

“I can’t guarantee you that your flight is going to be on time. I can’t guarantee you that your flight’s not going to be canceled,” Mr. Duffy said. “It’s going to depend on our air traffic controllers coming in to work every single day.”

The lower staffing issues are not concentrated in one place, and they affect different areas on different days, “moving throughout the national airspace [and] causing disruptions,” he said.

“Safety is paramount for us, and so if we don’t have the staffing levels in a tower … or center, you will see us delay traffic, you will see us cancel flights, because I want you to get to where you’re going,” Mr. Duffy said.

The secretary said he’s visited multiple air traffic control centers during the shutdown, now in its fourth week, and found controllers are “angry” about having to work without pay. Some have taken on second jobs so they can afford to pay their bills, he said.

Federal law requires air traffic controllers and other government employees to receive back pay when the shutdown ends, but it’s not clear when that will be.

Mr. Duffy thanked the many air traffic controllers coming to work even without a paycheck.

“We need you to come to work, but if they do not, we’ll know whose fault it is,” he said, referring to Senate Democrats who have repeatedly filibustered a stopgap bill to reopen the government.

Mr. Duffy said he believes Democratic senators in their hearts want to vote to reopen the government but are afraid of their “radical base,” losing donations and facing a primary challenge.

“This shutdown is not about the American people, not about the pain that America experiences because of the shutdown,” he said. “This is because Democrats are concerned about their own hide.”

Mr. Duffy’s remarks came at a press conference with House Republican leaders who also stressed their concerns about flight delays, cancellations and air traffic controllers not being focused at work because they’re worried about not being paid.

“These men and women have one of the most stressful jobs in America. They cannot be 99.5% accurate or 99.9% accurate. They have to be 100% accurate, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republican, said. “And now they’re being forced to work longer hours, take on multiple jobs and maintain the same level of excellence again, all while Democrats hold their paychecks hostage.”