FAA to Furlough Over 11,000 Employees Amid Funding Shortage

WASHINGTON— The U.S. Transportation Department has warned that more than 11,000 employees at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) could be furloughed if government funding lapses at midnight. This represents about a quarter of the FAA’s 45,000-person workforce.

Major U.S. airlines, including United Airlines (UA), Delta Air Lines (DL), American Airlines (AA), and Southwest Airlines (WN), have cautioned that a partial government shutdown could strain air travel nationwide.

With air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers forced to work without pay, delays and disruptions could ripple across key hubs such as New York (JFK) and Chicago (ORD).

Photo- The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey | Flickr

FAA to Furlough 11,000 Staff

The FAA confirmed that around 13,000 active air traffic controllers would still be required to work through any funding lapse to keep operations safe. However, they would not receive paychecks until the shutdown ended. Staffing shortages add to the concern, with the FAA already 3,800 controllers below its target levels.

Despite the potential shutdown, the FAA said it would continue hiring and training controllers. This marks a shift from previous shutdowns, where both recruitment and training were halted.

Even so, experts warn that pay delays could drive absenteeism, as seen in 2019 when unpaid workers called out, forcing authorities to slow air traffic in New York (LGA) and extend security wait times at airports nationwide.

Photo: Aero Icarus | Flickr

TSA and Security Operations

Roughly 50,000 TSA officers, who manage airport security checkpoints, would remain on duty without pay during a funding lapse.

In the 2019 shutdown, unpaid TSA staff shortages led to longer screening lines at major airports, frustrating travelers and pressuring lawmakers to end the deadlock.

Industry leaders are already bracing for similar consequences. Airline trade group Airlines for America, which represents the country’s largest carriers, has warned that flight schedules may need to slow down, reducing efficiency and inconveniencing passengers.

LaGuardia Airport Security; Photo- American Airlines

Economic Fallout for Travel Sector

Beyond the operational impact, the U.S. Travel Association estimates that a partial government shutdown could cost the travel sector roughly $1 billion per week.

The association, which represents airlines, hotels, car rental firms, and other travel-related businesses, has stressed that such losses would reverberate throughout the broader economy.

The Transportation Department has said that of its 53,717 employees, about 12,200 would be furloughed if funding lapses.

FAA staff cuts would make up the largest share, but essential functions tied to safety, such as certification of aircraft, engines, and commercial space launch oversight, would continue.

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