Aviation industry groups are intensifying pressure on US lawmakers to resolve the four-week government shutdown as unpaid air traffic controllers face financial hardship and flight safety concerns mount.

Staffing shortages for air traffic controllers accounted for about 5% of flight delays before the shutdown. It now accounts for about 53% of delays.

Yesterday morning, from around 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., a staffing shortage triggered a ground stop affecting Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport and Los Angeles International Airport flights, KTLA reported.

With around 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA agents working without pay, airports from Los Angeles to Chicago are beginning to feel pressure from staffing gaps.

The government shutdown has entered its fourth week, meaning essential federal workers are still working without pay. That includes FAA and TSA employees. The Tri-Cities Airport is looking to help employees impacted by the shutdown.

The FAA’s MOSAIC rule takes effect October 22, 2025 for sport-pilot changes and July 24 2026 for airworthiness changes, widening pilot privileges and light-sport aircraft eligibility.

Drone flights would be forbidden over outdoor public gatherings and above 400 feet (122 metres) in most cases. Operators would have to buy drones capable of flying without visual supervision, but, as long as it met spec, each drone leaving a production line would need only testing, not a federal airworthiness certification.

After many federal employees missed paychecks, AFGE called for a “clean” continuing resolution. The financial issues are compounded by other recent changes too.

Operations at Harry Reid International Airport continued to run with minor delays over the weekend because of a ground stop at Los Angeles International Airport that delayed flights in the region. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a ground stop at the Los Angeles airport Sunday morning when 22 air traffic controllers didn’t report for their shifts.