Air traffic controllers to miss 1st full paycheck Tuesday, furthering staffing concerns and delays

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — For the past few weeks, air traffic controllers have received partial paychecks because of the federal government shutdown. Starting Tuesday, they will miss their first full paycheck.

Airports nationwide are seeing more delayed and canceled flights due in part to staffing shortages.

U.S. air traffic controllers — who are considered essential workers — have been told to keep doing their jobs during the shutdown.

Tuesday marks the first day controllers will go without an entire paycheck.

MORE: Air traffic control staffing problems spiked over the weekend, raising concerns about disruption

Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, released this statement:

“With each passing day, controllers become more distracted by the risk of receiving a zero-dollar paycheck on October 28, despite working 40 hours per week and, in many cases, mandatory overtime due to the controller staffing shortage.”

“It’s incredibly important that they concentrate on the job,” said John Nance, an aviation expert.

There are about 13,000 air traffic controllers nationwide. Nance said not getting paid can add tremendous stress to an already high-pressure job.

“We haven’t had enough air traffic controllers in decades and these folks are out on the front lines here without paychecks now. We cannot expect them to do the job that they are expected to do,” said Nance.

On Fox News on Sunday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cast blame on Democrats for the shutdown and what’s happening to controllers.

“I don’t want air traffic controllers going to a food bank,” said Duffy.

Some airports have seen staffing shortages, delays, and at LAX this past weekend–a ground stop.

The FAA said this about air traffic controller staffing:

“As Secretary Duffy has said, there have been increased staffing shortages across the system. When that happens, the FAA slows traffic into some airports to ensure safe operations.”

Back in 2019, the strain on air travel in the U.S. helped end the five-week government shutdown when many air traffic controllers stayed home on the same day.

Air travelers hope things don’t reach that level.