Buckle up, folks—flights at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey are grounded, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is pointing fingers at a dire shortage of air traffic controllers.
According to Breitbart, as the government shutdown drags into its 29th day, the FAA has slammed the brakes on operations at Newark and even places like Los Angeles, California, citing staffing woes tied to unpaid controllers buckling under stress.
This mess kicked off with the FAA issuing a ground stop at Newark Airport, a decision that came down just after 3:30 p.m. ET.
That stop was later downgraded to a ground delay, with travelers now facing an average wait of 40 minutes, expected to last until around 10:59 p.m.
The ripple effect of this shutdown isn’t just a Jersey problem—airports like Los Angeles are also caught in the crossfire as controllers grapple with financial uncertainty.
Reports indicate that more controllers are calling in sick, worn down by the stress of working without a paycheck as this political stalemate drags on.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy didn’t mince words, noting, “More controllers were calling in sick.”
That’s not just a minor hiccup—it’s a glaring red flag about the toll this shutdown is taking on critical infrastructure workers.
Duffy also highlighted a worrying spike, stating, “Just yesterday, we had 22 triggers. That’s one of the highest that we have seen in the system since the shutdown began.”
He went on to explain, “And that’s a sign that the controllers are wearing thin.”
Let’s be real—when the folks keeping planes in the sky are hitting their breaking point, it’s not just inconvenient; it’s a safety concern that no amount of progressive posturing can paper over.
Meanwhile, the political gridlock in Washington shows no signs of easing, with Senate Democrats voting down a continuing resolution to reopen the government for the 13th time.
A few senators, including Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, and Angus King of Maine, crossed party lines to support the resolution, but it still fell short of the 60 votes needed to move forward.
While the Beltway plays its endless game of chicken, everyday Americans are left stranded at airports, and controllers are left wondering how to pay their bills—hardly the “equity” some politicians love to preach about.