Over 8,000 flights delayed as air traffic controllers work without pay during Dem-backed government shutdown

Across the United States, there were 8,000 flights delayed on Sunday as air traffic control workers have seen absences continue to interfere with travel. This comes as the government shutdown has entered its fourth week and Democrats have repeatedly voted down measures to reopen the government as well as to pay air traffic controllers who have gone without compensation.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that the Federal Aviation Administration had staffing shortages with air traffic controllers at 22 different locations on Saturday, per Reuters. More flight delays as well as cancellations are expected with the continued shortage of staff. The 8,000 flight delays on Sunday were an increase from 5,300 on Saturday, and the number of delays has been above average since the shutdown began.

Air traffic controllers are some of those employees who are required to continue working without pay when the government shuts down. There are around 13,000 air traffic controllers, as well as 50,000 TSA staffers, who must continue working without pay in addition to many others. The Republicans in the Senate had proposed a bill that would have paid air traffic controllers, the military, and other government workers who must continue during the shutdown, but Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) was the only Democrat who supported the measure last week, and it did not pass.

The Democrats have continued to vote against a clean continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the government at normal levels and have instead—among other provisions—proposed a CR with an increase in federal funding to cover the healthcare expenses of illegal immigrants. Minority Whip in the House of Representatives, Katherine Clark, has also admitted the Democrats are using the shutdown as “leverage” for their party.

On Saturday, Duffy said that there are 22 "triggers" that have signaled there is a shortage in air traffic controllers. He added it was "one of the highest that we've seen in the system" since the start of the month. "That's a sign that the controllers are wearing thin."

Some air traffic controllers are also looking to supplement their lost income with second jobs. "They're taking second jobs, they're out there looking," Duffy added.