As the federal government shutdown continues, the FAA and the nation's air traffic control system are being increasingly affected, leading to delays at major airports across the U.S.

Federal air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are considered "essential," meaning those federal employees are expected to keep working despite not receiving a paycheck. They're supposed to get back pay once the shutdown is lifted.

The Federal Aviation Administration said late Sunday, Oct. 19, that air traffic control staffing issues were delaying travel at airports in Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta and Newark as a U.S. government shutdown became the third-longest in history , USA TODAY reported.

Still, the longer the shutdown drags on, the more likely disruption

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