Government Shutdown: Air Traffic Controllers Starring in 'No Pay, No Play'
Since October 1, air traffic controllers have been heroically juggling no paychecks and sky-high pressure during the ongoing government shutdown, with their first $0 paycheck landing October 28. FAA issued staffing alerts across at least 11 centers, causing chaos at JFK, Newark, and LaGuardia, where high winds joined the party for over 800 combined delays and cancellations. Despite literally keeping planes from becoming real-life bumper cars, these controllers are grinding without pay while airports like Nashville and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental join the misery tour. NYC Emergency Management warns more restrictions may drop if conditions worsen, basically telling travelers, 'Good luck, brave souls.'
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Air traffic controllers working for free since Oct 1 just to keep planes from crashing into each other — or politics. Meanwhile, NYC airports juggle high winds and ghost-staffing like it’s the plot of a late-night black comedy.
Imagine showing up to work paycheck-less and telling 50,000 waiting passengers ‘Hey, mind if I slow down traffic a bit while I sort my bills?’ Welcome to America’s air traffic controller reality show.
JFK, Newark, and LaGuardia are less about jet-setting and more about staff-testing thanks to a government shutdown. At this rate, the only friendly sky there will be from gusts of chaos and confusion.
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 11/1/2025 | Author: Kelsey Vlamis,Taylor Rains
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