PULSE POINTS
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Travel chaos erupted across the U.S. as staffing shortages caused by the ongoing Democrat-caused government shutdown led to significant flight delays.
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, air traffic controllers, and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday, November 5, 2025, affecting airports nationwide, including Newark, JFK, LAX, and others.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Unless a deal to end the federal government shutdown is reached, a 10 percent reduction in scheduled air traffic at 40 major airports will begin Friday.” – Sean Duffy
🎯IMPACT: Delays of up to seven hours at major airports, with average wait times around two hours and 20 minutes, affecting both arrivals and departures.
Travel disruptions across the United States intensified on November 5 as the Democrat-caused federal government shutdown worsened staffing shortages at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The agency reported delays at 17 major airports, with wait times potentially reaching seven hours.
Airports affected include Newark Liberty International (EWR), John F. Kennedy (JFK), LaGuardia (LGA), Los Angeles (LAX), Atlanta (ATL), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Miami (MIA), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Washington-area airports (DCA, IAD, BWI), and hubs in San Francisco (SFO), Boston (BOS), Seattle (SEA), Denver (DEN), Orlando (MCO), and Salt Lake City (SLC).
To manage the backlog, the FAA has implemented an airspace flow program, spacing out flights across U.S. airspace from the ground to 60,000 feet. Both arrivals and departures are affected, with average delays estimated at 2 hours and 20 minutes. Newark has experienced some of the longest delays, while Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has reported average delays exceeding three hours.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that, if the Democrat shutdown continues, there could be a 10 percent reduction in scheduled air traffic at 40 major airports starting Friday. “Unless a deal to end the federal government shutdown is reached, a 10 percent reduction in scheduled air traffic at 40 major airports will begin Friday,” he said.
The shutdown, now in its 36th day, is the longest in U.S. history. Approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents are working without pay, placing additional strain on an already understaffed system. On Monday, about 2,800 flights were delayed and more than 100 were canceled, as some essential workers struggled to report to work amid financial pressure.
The aviation industry, including major carriers like Delta Air Lines, has urged Congress to pass a “clean continuing resolution” (CR) to reopen the government. Republicans have tried this multiple times, but the Democratic minority in the U.S. Senate has blocked every attempt.
Delta executives warned that ongoing delays and cancellations threaten safety and could disrupt air travel nationwide. Meanwhile, some Senate Democrats have suggested federal workers are willing to continue working without pay to oppose elements of the Trump agenda. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) remarked, “I think they all would like to see the shutdown end, but they also don’t like giving Donald Trump a blank check.”
As the shutdown drags on, officials continue to monitor staffing levels and adjust flight schedules. Travelers are advised to expect extended wait times at security checkpoints and potential flight cancellations. With air traffic controllers and TSA agents stretched thin, the coming days could see further disruptions at major airports if the government remains closed.
Image by dbking.
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