As the federal government shutdown stretches into its second month, the nation’s air travel system is showing severe strain, with Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) emerging as the latest flashpoint. A worsening shortage of air traffic controllers—many of whom are working without pay—has led to cascading flight delays, ground stops, and hundreds of cancellations, snarling travel across the New York metropolitan region.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an advisory Sunday warning that incoming flights to Newark were facing delays averaging two to three hours, while some departures were grounded for up to seven. The agency cited critical staffing shortfalls at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility, which manages air traffic in and out of Newark’s airspace.
By midday, nearly 200 flights had been delayed and more than 100 canceled, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware. The disruptions soon rippled to New York’s John F. Kennedy International (JFK) and LaGuardia (LGA) airports, stranding thousands of travelers just as the holiday travel season begins.
The latest breakdown stems directly from the ongoing government shutdown, now in its 35th day, which has forced more than 13,000 air traffic controllers nationwide to work without pay. Already burdened by chronic understaffing, the FAA has been unable to fill vacant positions or expand training programs, and missed paychecks have triggered a wave of sick calls among controllers.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned last week that the situation could worsen rapidly if the funding impasse continues.
“We work overtime to make sure the system is safe,” Duffy said Sunday on CBS’s Face the Nation. “But we will slow traffic down, you’ll see delays, we’ll have flights canceled—to make sure the system is safe.”
At Newark’s TRACON, only three controllers were reportedly on duty during peak evening hours last week—well below the required 14—prompting a 75-minute ground stop on October 30 that rippled through the Northeast corridor.
Controllers say the strain is unsustainable. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has denied that workers are staging a coordinated sickout but confirmed a rise in absences due to burnout and exhaustion from extended overtime shifts.
NATCA President Nick Daniels criticized what he called “political brinkmanship” that has left essential personnel without pay. “Controllers are pawns in a budget battle, and passengers are collateral damage,” Daniels said.
The FAA’s workforce crisis is not new. The agency has struggled with recruitment and outdated technology for decades, much of it a lingering effect of the 1981 PATCO strike, which decimated staffing levels. A $5.2 billion backlog in modernization projects—including radar upgrades and communication systems—has further limited the agency’s flexibility to handle disruptions.
Newark, the 12th-busiest airport in the United States and United Airlines’ largest East Coast hub, has borne the brunt of the turmoil. The delays have spread through the tri-state region, forcing cancellations at JFK and LaGuardia and delaying flights as far away as Boston and Philadelphia.
United Airlines and other carriers have begun issuing fee-free rebooking waivers through November 5. But with Thanksgiving travel around the corner, airlines and federal officials fear that the worst may still be ahead.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are calling for a resolution. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), who toured Newark’s terminals last month, described the delays as “unacceptable” and urged congressional leaders to prioritize FAA funding. “This isn’t a partisan issue,” he said. “It’s a public safety issue.”
Secretary Duffy has announced temporary measures, including emergency staffing transfers and equipment upgrades at Philadelphia TRACON, but aviation experts say the fixes are stopgaps at best.
For now, travelers across the tri-state area are advised to expect long waits, check flight status frequently—and bring patience, snacks, and a backup plan.