‘Mass Chaos:’ DOT Says Some US Airspace May Close Next Week If Government Shutdown Doesn’t End

According to Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy, if the latest United States government shutdown continues into next week, certain areas of the country’s airspace may have to reduce their operations.

Duffy issued a warning to Democrats about potential disruptions to U.S. airspace and air travel should the ongoing shutdown extend into next week.

“So, if you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos,” Duffy reportedly said Tuesday, November 4, per Axios. “You will see mass flight delays. You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace, because we just cannot manage it. Because we don’t have the air traffic controllers.”

Notably, the Trump administration has explicitly blamed Democrats for the current government shutdown and its lengthiness. The stoppage began October 1, and as of November 5, its 36th day, is the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

What Else Is There To Know About The Current State Of Travel In The U.S. Airspace Amid The Government Shutdown?

In a November 3 interview with CNBC, Duffy commented on the safety of U.S. airspace during the shutdown, also considering that many flights have been delayed or canceled and that some air traffic controllers have taken on additional job responsibilities. He said, “Is there more risk in the system when there’s a shutdown? Absolutely there’s more risk. But if we thought that it was unsafe, we’d shut the whole airspace down. We won’t let people travel. We’re not there at this point – it’s just significant delays.”

Duffy’s comments add to the pressure being applied to end the government shutdown. Other factors adding pressure to end the shutdown include mass air travel delays since it began and the more than 1 million federal workers currently going without pay. Moreover, of that figure, the Bipartisan Policy Center claims around 730,000 federal workers are required to continue showing up for work despite not receiving their scheduled pay. This group includes air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration agents, both of which are essential to airport operations.

Duffy’s warning is also heightened as it comes just weeks ahead of holiday travel for Thanksgiving.

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