As the U.S. federal shutdown stretched into its 23rd day on October 23, 2025, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt cautioned that flight delays and cancellations could spike heading into Thanksgiving if Congress fails to fund the government. About 13,000 air-traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers are working without pay; absenteeism among controllers has already caused 53 percent of nationwide delays since October 1, compared with 5 percent in normal operations.
Industry groups remember 2019’s 35-day shutdown, when staffing shortages forced the FAA to halt arrivals at New York LaGuardia and Washington National. Airlines for America CEO Nicholas Calio warned this winter’s travel season could see similar disruptions, jeopardizing an estimated US $16 billion in passenger spending. Unions say morale is plunging, with hundreds of controllers seeking second jobs to cover living expenses.
House Speaker Mike Johnson blamed Senate Democrats for tying reopening legislation to expanded Affordable Care Act subsidies, while Democrats countered that President Trump’s refusal to negotiate on foreign-aid cuts triggered the impasse. A Senate bill to pay “essential” aviation workers during the shutdown will be debated this week, but appropriations prospects remain dim.
Corporate mobility managers should brace travelers for longer security lines, build extra layover buffers into itineraries and monitor NOTAMs for flow-control programs. Companies relocating staff at year-end should consider shifting household-goods shipments away from peak travel days to avoid compounded logistical snarls.
Industry groups remember 2019’s 35-day shutdown, when staffing shortages forced the FAA to halt arrivals at New York LaGuardia and Washington National. Airlines for America CEO Nicholas Calio warned this winter’s travel season could see similar disruptions, jeopardizing an estimated US $16 billion in passenger spending. Unions say morale is plunging, with hundreds of controllers seeking second jobs to cover living expenses.
House Speaker Mike Johnson blamed Senate Democrats for tying reopening legislation to expanded Affordable Care Act subsidies, while Democrats countered that President Trump’s refusal to negotiate on foreign-aid cuts triggered the impasse. A Senate bill to pay “essential” aviation workers during the shutdown will be debated this week, but appropriations prospects remain dim.
Corporate mobility managers should brace travelers for longer security lines, build extra layover buffers into itineraries and monitor NOTAMs for flow-control programs. Companies relocating staff at year-end should consider shifting household-goods shipments away from peak travel days to avoid compounded logistical snarls.
