The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of USA announced that it was delaying flights at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington and Fort Worth International Airport in Dallas. Cause, their staffing problems with air traffic controllers, due to the ongoing shutdown for the 30th day!
According to the US FAA delays of 91 minutes, on average, at Reagan Airport and 21 minutes at Dallas due to the effects of shutdownbut also severe bad weather. Delays are also expected at the Orlando airport for the same reason.
Tens of thousands of flights were canceled or delayed due to lack of staff at airports these days. Bad weather in the US Northeast is also compounding the problem.
More than 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration employees work without pay. Transport Minister Sean Duffy said this week that 44% of delays on Sunday (26.10.2025) and 24% on Monday (27.10.2025) were due to the absence of inspectors. This percentage was an average of 5% before the shutdown began.
The FAA is about 3,500 controllers short of its airport staffing goal. Many were required to work overtime and six days a week even before the shutdown.