Airlines, major pilot unions, and federal aviation workers are pushing hard for lawmakers to end the federal shutdown because paychecks have stopped and safety is at risk. Unions say controllers, TSA officers, and pilots are still showing up without pay, and they want a clean continuing resolution to get people paid and the system stabilized.
Air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration agents will miss their first full paycheck on Tuesday, according to Treasury Secretary Sean Duffy. About 13,000 air traffic controllers face that reality, and the operational strain is already showing at facilities around the country. Industry leaders warn those lost paychecks will ripple through flights and freight during a busy travel season.
Bessent said that air traffic controllers who work six days a week shouldn’t have to worry about picking up a second job to pay bills. That simple fairness message has become a central demand from unions that want Congress to act now.
Lawmakers shut down the federal government on Oct. 1 over competing funding priorities, and reopening requires 60 votes in the Senate. Democrats have refused to support a clean continuing resolution, leaving vital aviation staff working without pay. The result is mounting frustration from aviation groups and frontline workers.
Airline unions and carriers have publicly urged Senate Democrats to reopen the government immediately, noting this is the second-longest shutdown since 1981 and the system cannot absorb more strain. With travel at near-record levels, any prolonged instability risks more delays and reduced capacity. Leaders across the industry are alarmed and calling for a quick fix.
“Considering the strain on our nation’s aviation system, SWAPA strongly urges Congress to pass a clean Continuing Resolution to fund the government,” said Captain Reven. He continued, “Our air traffic controllers and the broader air traffic system are already operating under immense pressure — a government shutdown only compounds that stress and threatens the efficiency of our skies as we see the impact of reduced controller availability at facilities across the country. Likewise, TSA professionals continue to show up every day to safeguard the traveling public, even without pay. These men and women deserve our full support and the certainty of a paycheck.”
SWAPA calls on Congress to act now: pass a clean Continuing Resolution, return to Washington, and work in a bipartisan manner to address the challenges each side is so passionate about. Our National Airspace System, the workers that support it, and the traveling public depend on it. Industry sources say there is no credible plan to preserve operational stability while withholding pay.
“It is time for our leaders to come to the table in good faith to make a deal that will reopen the government. Airline pilots stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters at NATCA and with all the federal workers who are continuing to work without a paycheck during this shutdown,” Ambrosi said. “The job of keeping aviation safe and secure is tough on an easy day, but forcing them to do it without pay undermines the safety and security of our entire system. We are at a critical moment in aviation safety, and we need our leaders to be focused on the necessary infrastructure and staffing improvements.”
Airlines for America warned that missed paychecks increase stress for controllers, TSA officers, and CBP employees and that a stressed system slows down, causing delays for travelers and shippers. “At this time of record air travel and increased reliance on cargo shipments, stability and predictability for U.S. aviation are more important than ever. Missed paychecks for the federal employees charged with the safe and efficient facilitation of our national airspace unnecessarily increase stress for the thousands of air traffic controllers, TSA officers and CBP employees who work every day to keep aviation safe and secure. Aviation remains the safest mode of transportation in the world — but to maintain that record a system under stress must slow down, reducing efficiency and causing delays for travelers and shippers,” the group said.
“We urge elected leaders to act with an appropriate sense of urgency to solve this problem and immediately reopen the federal government. The quickest and simplest way to ensure those critical employees are paid is by passing a clean CR.” The industry is calling for the fastest, clearest path to get federal workers paid and the system back to normal.
Major pilot unions representing tens of thousands of aviators have aligned with carriers in calling for a clean, nonpartisan continuing resolution. “On behalf of the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA) and its 30,000 members, we call on Congress to end the government shutdown by passing a clean Continuing Resolution. We as pilots adhere to strict procedures promoting safety as our most important priority. We have seen the stress and tension this year on the National Airspace System due to short-staffed air traffic controllers. This shutdown only compounds the pressures they face as they now report to work without a paycheck. It’s time to recognize their contributions, along with our colleagues at TSA, who ensure we fly in the safest skies every day with the trust of the American flying public. Congress must support these men and women by ending this shutdown immediately.”
Allied Pilots Association President First Officer Nick Silva added, “Congress should reconvene and work in a bipartisan manner to pass a clean Continuing Resolution to fund and reopen the government. We stand with our brothers and sisters in air traffic control and TSA who continue to show up to work every day without a paycheck. These men and women take their oath seriously to guarantee a safe National Airspace System so that we, the pilots, can ensure the flying public reaches their destinations in a timely manner and without harm. As the shutdown stretches on and airports encounter potential delays, it only intensifies the pressure these aviation professionals confront in the face of not getting paid. It’s time we support these men and women and reopen the federal government.”
NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots President Capt. Pedro Leroux warned the uncertainty is hurting focus and families: “How can we possibly expect our industry peers to be fully focused on their responsibilities – chief of which is keeping the flying public safe and secure – when many are likely wondering how long they are going to go without pay. And, more specifically, how do they continue to care for their families – to put food on the table? Our members rely on ATC, in particular, to provide critical direction and support during all phases of flight. Today is day 23 of the shutdown, and the strain this is placing on all stakeholders – federal employees, flight crews and the traveling public is taking a toll. It is indisputable that our system is less safe today than it was on Oct. 1 when the shutdown began.”
Senate Democrats have repeatedly voted against reopening the government, even as leaders such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer point fingers elsewhere. That standoff has left aviation workers caught in the middle and the industry pressing for a quick stopgap that restores pay and stability.
Southwest Airlines Pilots Association President Capt. Jody Reven called on Congress to pass a clean funding bill. “Considering the strain on our nation’s aviation system, SWAPA strongly urges Congress to pass a clean Continuing Resolution to fund the government. Our air traffic controllers and the broader air traffic system are already operating under immense pressure — a government shutdown only compounds that stress and threatens the efficiency of our skies as we see the impact of reduced controller availability at facilities across the country. Likewise, TSA professionals continue to show up every day to safeguard the traveling public, even without pay. These men and women deserve our full support and the certainty of a paycheck.” They join other key industry leaders in calling on Democrats to immediately end the shutdown and return the country to regular order.
National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Nick Daniels made an unambiguous plea: “NATCA advocates for every excepted employee, every federal employee that’s out there, to be paid no matter what the circumstance, no matter what the shutdown. And we’re ensuring that our message is loud and clear. There’s one way to do it. And that’s by ending this shutdown and putting everybody back to work and having them compensated for the work they do day in and day out, especially air traffic controllers.”
Editor’s Note: The Schumer Shutdown is here. Rather than put the American people first, Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats forced a government shutdown for healthcare for illegals. They own this.
