Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Friday that airline traffic across the U.S. could face reductions of up to 20 percent if the ongoing government shutdown continues, citing critical staffing shortages among air traffic controllers at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Speaking at a Breitbart News event in Washington, D.C., Duffy said the FAA has already begun implementing a 10 percent cut in flights nationwide, with potential for deeper reductions if more controllers are unable to report to work.
“If this goes on and I have more controllers who simply can’t come in who can’t safely control airspace and have to find other work then yes, 15 or even 20 percent could become reality,” Duffy explained. “Ten percent might end up looking optimistic.”
Staffing Crisis and Safety Concerns
In follow-up comments to media, Duffy clarified that his remarks were theoretical, not an official policy decision. “Could it reach 20 percent? Possibly but there’s no formal plan for that,” he said. “We’re constantly reviewing the data, watching airspace conditions, and making choices that keep Americans safe. My hope is that the numbers go in the other direction.”
Under FAA direction, airlines began scaling back operations at 40 airports nationwide starting Friday, initially cutting 4 percent of flights and planning to increase that reduction by 2 percent daily until reaching 10 percent.
Political Fallout and Accusations
Duffy also pushed back against criticism from some Democratic lawmakers, who accused the agency of using the flight reductions as a political tactic to pressure the Senate into approving a Republican stopgap spending bill to reopen the government.
“I’ve heard the claims that this is political,” Duffy said. “It’s not. We’ve gone above and beyond to minimize disruption for the American people. The data and safety requirements drive every decision.”
While Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, demanded that the FAA release its safety risk assessments to Congress, another Democrat on the same committee, Rep. Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.), defended the move, saying the reductions were “the right call for the safety of the flying public.”
Pressure on Congress
Duffy urged senators to remain in Washington rather than returning to their home states while travelers deal with grounded or delayed flights. He said he had visited Reagan National Airport earlier in the day, where he saw stranded passengers firsthand.
“There are people trying to get home, people heading to funerals they can’t get there,” he said. “So why are senators flying home? Keep them here, especially the ones who voted no on reopening the government.”
In a lighter exchange, Breitbart’s Matthew Boyle joked that Duffy could “put senators on the no-fly list” to keep them in Washington until the impasse ends. Duffy laughed and replied, “That would be a great , well-played.”
Looking Ahead
As for how long it might take to restore full flight operations once the government reopens, Duffy said it will depend on controller availability and safety assessments.
“Once things stabilize, we’ll review the data, check on staffing levels, and give airlines time to rebuild their schedules,”he said.
Still, Duffy made clear he would not support compromising on Republican priorities just to end the standoff: “Giving something up to open the government would be a mistake. The right path is to hold firm and keep Americans safe while doing it.”