On October 1, 2025, the U.S. government came to a grinding halt. Federal agencies pressed pause on almost every function, and only employees deemed “essential” continued their day-to-day tasks.

The impact of the shutdown reverberated across the travel industry: The nation’s museums shut their doors , national parks remained severely understaffed , and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers had to choose between working for free and losing their jobs .

The longest government shutdown in American history did more than inconvenience travelers; it shone a light on concerns about air traffic control (ATC) staffing that have been festering for 40 years.

“I don't think we ever reached the number [of staff] that the FAA allows in facilities around the entire country,” Ste

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