Air traffic controllers say FAA’s 10% flight cuts won’t ease shutdown strain

Air traffic controllers say the Federal Aviation Administration’s plan to trim flight schedules by up to 10% during the government shutdown doesn’t go nearly far enough to ease the crushing workload inside the nation’s control centers, and may do little to address what they describe as a growing safety risk.

The Washington Examiner spoke with three current air traffic controllers and one who recently left the agency. None were authorized to speak publicly, and all requested anonymity out of concern for retaliation. They described a system buckling under chronic staffing shortages, six-day workweeks, and mandatory overtime, now pushed to the brink as controllers report for duty without pay.

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