US government shutdown hits aviation sector; FAA will furlough 11,322 employees

The US Transportation Department has announced that 11,322 employees at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be furloughed after the US federal government officially shut down on the night of September 30, 2025. 

The government shutdown happened after lawmakers and US President Donald Trump could not agree on the federal budget. The negotiations broke down largely over Democrats’ demands for healthcare funding, leaving US Congress at an impasse. 

This marks the first shutdown in almost seven years and will disrupt operations across various US federal departments and agencies, impacting hundreds of thousands of government workers, including those in the aviation sector. 

FAA shutdown: what will keep running? 

In a consolidated lapse plan released by the US DOT on September 30, 2025, the institution said that furloughs will mainly impact FAA employees responsible for tasks which are non-essential to immediate safety.  

Meanwhile, FAA workers who “perform activities necessarily implied by law” or “protect life and property” will not be affected.  

This includes 13,294 air traffic controllers who will continue providing air traffic services without pay, along with staff responsible for hiring, field training, and the maintenance of critical navigational facilities that support both civilian and military operations. 

Additionally, the agency will continue on-call accident investigations, oversee commercial space launches, and manage foreign relations concerning aviation safety-related matters. Essential support services, such as the aircraft and airman registry and emergency communications, will also continue during the shutdown. 

The furloughs are likely to lead to delays in aviation rulemaking, routine personnel background checks, and random drug testing for non-safety staff. Work on capital planning and facility upgrades not funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) will also be halted, along with investment planning, financial analysis, dispute resolution, and audit functions. 

The agency stated that it would take about four hours to shut down most of its non-exempt activities. The FAA expects that the orderly shutdown process for contracting officers will be completed within one day, while other activities may take two to three days to finalize. 

Shutdown risks disrupting air travel 

The government shutdown has already raised serious alarms from the industry groups, airlines, and unions. 

In a statement released prior to the shutdown, the industry trade organization Airlines for America, which represents the largest passenger and cargo carriers in the US, including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines, indicated that the whole industry will “feel the strain”. 

“This shutdown threat is coming at a critical moment – on the heels of Congress approving $12.5 billion to modernize the FAA’s antiquated air traffic control system; amid the DOT “supercharging” hiring to get air traffic control facilities fully staffed; and the TSA reporting record numbers of travelers through checkpoints,” the organization said. 

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) issued statement in which it said that the shutdown “threatens the stability of the safest aviation system in the world” that transports 2.9 million passengers and 59,000 tons of cargo daily. 

“Every safe departure and arrival in aviation relies on close collaboration across the industry,” ALPA said. “Our pilots depend on our partners at the FAA, especially hardworking and dedicated air traffic controllers, to help safely shepherd us through the skies.” 

The shutdown could result in a loss of $1 billion each week to the US travel economy, the US Travel Association has warned. 

The last federal government shutdown, also the longest in history, occurred during Donald Trump’s first presidency in 2018 and lasted 35 days. The post US government shutdown hits aviation sector; FAA will furlough 11,322 employees appeared first on AeroTime.

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