Government shutdown forces Hollywood Burbank Airport to operate without air-traffic controllers for hours
Hollywood Burbank Airport operated for several hours Monday night without air-traffic controllers after the partial government shutdown prompted a slight uptick in sick calls and left some facilities short‑staffed, officials said. Roughly 13,000–14,000 controllers and tens of thousands of TSA employees are being kept on duty without pay amid an FAA shortfall of about 3,000 controllers, and unions have urged members to continue working even as airports—which initially saw few delays—warn operations and safety could be strained if the lapse persists.
Politics
Transportation
Public Safety
Economy
📌 Key Facts
- Hollywood Burbank Airport in California operated without air-traffic controllers for several hours on Monday night amid the government shutdown.
- The FAA classifies air-traffic controllers as essential workers; NATCA (the controllers' union, with more than 20,000 members) told members to keep working, discouraged job actions and warned such actions could risk removal from federal service, while NATCA President Nick Daniels posted a video acknowledging members' uncertainty and hardships.
- Estimates early in the lapse put the number of controllers remaining on duty without pay at roughly 13,200–14,000, with more than 61,000 TSA employees also expected to continue working without pay; roughly 750,000 federal employees were furloughed as broader context.
- The FAA was already short about 3,000 air-traffic controllers before the shutdown, increasing the system's vulnerability to sustained absences and operational strain.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reported a slight increase in air-traffic controllers calling in sick since the shutdown began.
- At the shutdown's outset, many U.S. airports reported few delays and TSA lines had not materially deteriorated, but officials and analysts warned that a prolonged lapse could degrade operations and passenger processing.
- Aviation experts, the U.S. Travel Association president and union leaders warned of safety and operational risks if the shutdown continues, citing historical precedent from the 2018–2019 35‑day shutdown (including a Miami terminal closure).
- Union officials and controllers on the record described mounting overwork and strain among air-traffic controllers as the shutdown persisted.
📚 Contextual Background
- The Social Security Administration's contingency plans provide that in the event of a lapse in appropriations the agency will follow those plans and beneficiaries would continue receiving Social Security, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments.
📰 Sources (6)
California airport goes without air traffic controllers in government shutdown
New information:
- Hollywood Burbank Airport in California operated without air traffic controllers for several hours on Monday night.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the TSA has seen a slight increase in air-traffic controllers calling in sick since the shutdown began.
- The union representing air-traffic controllers reportedly instructed members to continue working during the shutdown.
Air traffic controllers told to keep working during government shutdown
New information:
- NATCA posted a message to members discouraging job actions and warning that participating in a job action 'could result in removal from federal service.'
- NATCA President Nick Daniels posted a video message acknowledging the shutdown's 'uncertainty and hardships' for members.
- The article cites NATCA's membership size (more than 20,000) and reiterates that the FAA defines controllers as essential workers required to work during a shutdown.
Shutdown puts further strain on already understaffed air traffic control system
New information:
- PBS reports that roughly 14,000 air traffic controllers will continue to work without pay during the shutdown.
- PBS cites a figure of roughly 750,000 federal employees furloughed as the broader context for the operational strain.
- PBS includes an on‑the‑record interview with Nick Daniels of the air traffic controllers' union describing the overwork and strain.
How your travel plans could be affected by a prolonged government shutdown
New information:
- Identifies estimated staffing counts early in the lapse: roughly 13,200 air‑traffic controllers and more than 61,000 TSA employees expected to remain on duty (working without pay).
- Notes an existing FAA shortfall of about 3,000 air‑traffic controllers, increasing vulnerability to sustained absences.
- Quotes U.S. Travel Association president Geoff Freeman and aviation experts (Jeffrey Price) plus a union leader (Nick Daniels) describing safety and operational risks and historical precedent from the 2018–2019 35‑day shutdown (including Miami terminal closure).
U.S. airports report few delays as the shutdown begins.
New information:
- Contrasts prior warnings by reporting that, initially, airports saw few delays at the start of the shutdown.
- Adds context that TSA lines and airport operations have not (yet) deteriorated materially in the opening hours but could be affected if the lapse continues.