Aviation groups warn of safety risks as US government shutdown continues 

Aviation unions and industry groups are warning that the US government shutdown that began on October 1, 2025, is putting safety at risk and delaying critical FAA work, as more than 11,000 employees have been furloughed and thousands more continue to work without pay. 

Air Line Pilots Association President Capt. Jason Ambrosi told members the shutdown is “bad for ALPA, the airline industry, and the safety of our skies.” In a letter he sent on October 3, Ambrosi said air traffic controllers, passenger screening staff, and other critical personnel face unpaid shifts, while support employees are furloughed. Meanwhile, long-term projects such as infrastructure improvements and mediated contract negotiations are paused. 

Ambrosi urged pilots to remain vigilant, noting that fewer resources will be dedicated to keeping operations safe until funding is restored.  

“To maintain the highest safety standards, uninterrupted funding to sustain the system that safely moves 2.9 million passengers and 59,000 tons of cargo every day is the necessary path forward,” he wrote. 

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) estimates that more than 2,000 of its represented members — including certification engineers and aerospace specialists — are furloughed. The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) union said 60 percent of its workforce will work without pay, while training for technicians has halted. PASS president Dave Spero warned that training delays could set back workforce development by years. Both unions called on Congress to restore funding immediately, stressing that the National Airspace System cannot absorb prolonged disruption without weakening safety. 

According to the Department of Transportation’s shutdown plan, the FAA has furloughed 11,322 of its 44,829 employees. About 33,000 remain on the job, including more than 13,000 controllers, but most will go unpaid until the shutdown ends.  

Some functions remain in place: air traffic services continue, the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City is still operating, and medical certification and aircraft registry services are ongoing. The agency is also allowed to continue using $12.5 billion already set aside for air traffic modernization. But certification work, new rulemaking, and many safety initiatives are on hold, creating potential bottlenecks once the government reopens. 

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association also expressed concern. AOPA President Darren Pleasance said the shutdown threatens progress on hiring and modernization. “Secretary Sean Duffy has done an admirable job leading the Department of Transportation and doing all he can to continue to hire more controllers and address the needed upgrades to our air traffic system. The FAA also has a proven leader in Administrator Bryan Bedford, who is working diligently to move FAA in the right direction. These shutdowns don’t help—that’s for certain,” Pleasance said. 

Airlines for America, which represents the major US carriers, urged lawmakers to act quickly. The association said furloughs and unpaid shifts at the FAA and TSA could slow the system, forcing airlines to reduce efficiency. “Federal employees who manage air traffic, inspect aircraft and secure our nation’s aviation system should not be asked to work without pay,” A4A said. 

In addition, a coalition of aviation organizations — including airports, manufacturers, and labor groups — signed a joint letter to Congress warning that shutdowns “harm the US economy and degrade the redundancies and margins of safety that our National Airspace System is built upon.” The group said even brief lapses in funding create ripple effects, delaying hiring, training, and modernization efforts. 

Flight attendants have also weighed in. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA highlighted the risks of forcing frontline safety workers such as TSA officers, controllers, and FAA staff to continue working without pay. The union said doing so adds stress to critical safety roles and undermines an already stretched workforce. 

Past government shutdowns have ranged from a few days to more than a month, leaving uncertainty over how long this one might last. The White House has warned that every week the government remains closed could cost the economy $15 billion in lost GDP. Those mounting costs may increase pressure on lawmakers to resolve the impasse, but for now there is no clear timeline for reopening. 

For the aviation industry, the message is clear: essential operations continue, but under strain. Unions and trade groups say the longer the stalemate drags on, the greater the risks to safety, efficiency, and the resilience of the national airspace system. The post Aviation groups warn of safety risks as US government shutdown continues  appeared first on AeroTime.

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