Washington, D.C. | U.S. Vice President JD Vance has warned that the ongoing government shutdown could trigger an aviation “disaster” if it continues into the busy Thanksgiving travel season, potentially leading to mass disruptions across the country’s airports.
Speaking after a meeting at the White House with top executives from American Airlines, United Airlines, aviation unions, and industry leaders, Vance urged Democrats in Congress to cooperate in ending the funding deadlock. He cautioned that prolonged delays in reopening the government could lead to increased employee absences, longer security lines, and severe flight disruptions.
“It could be a disaster. It really could be,” Vance said. “At that point, you’re talking about people who have missed three paychecks. How many of them are not going to show up for work?”
The 30-day shutdown has already taken a toll on U.S. aviation, with the Transportation Department reporting a spike in flight delays linked to air traffic controller shortages. Around 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are currently working without pay, officials said.
Airline executives from Delta, United, Southwest, and American have called on Congress to urgently pass a continuing resolution (CR) — a temporary funding measure to reopen the government while policy negotiations continue.
“It’s putting stress on the economy,” said United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, noting that the shutdown is hurting ticket bookings. “It’s time to pass a clean CR.”
Delta Air Lines warned that the strain on the aviation system is forcing slower operations, “reducing efficiency and causing delays for the millions of people who take to the skies every day.”
Industry sources said staff shortages and missed paychecks have led to rising unscheduled absences among air traffic controllers and TSA officers — a situation reminiscent of the 2019 shutdown that ended after widespread air travel disruptions.
According to FAA data, 44% of delays on Sunday and 24% on Monday were due to controller absences, compared with just 5% before the shutdown. Many controllers have resorted to taking second jobs to make ends meet, while airlines and airport authorities have begun distributing food to unpaid TSA agents and federal workers.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is already operating with 3,500 fewer air traffic controllers than required and has relied on mandatory overtime and six-day workweeks to maintain operations even before the shutdown began.
With the holiday season fast approaching, aviation leaders warn that unless Congress acts swiftly, the country could face one of the worst travel crises in recent memory, threatening not just flight schedules but also broader economic stability.
