The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced Sept. 30 that more than 12,000 of its employees would be furloughed and thousands more will go without pay due to the government shutdown, with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) bearing the largest share of the cuts.
A furlough means employees are temporarily taken off the job without pay. Unlike a layoff, furloughed workers are expected to return to work once funding is restored. However, some essential staff may have to keep working even though they are not paid until the shutdown ends.
“More than 13,000 current air traffic controllers would be required to continue working, but would not be paid until the shutdown ended,” the FAA said. The agency is already 3,800 controllers short of its staffing target, but will continue hiring and training during the shutdown, reversing past practices when both were halted.
The FAA stated that it would maintain essential operations, including the maintenance of navigational aids, flight inspections, airworthiness directives, and certification activities for commercial airplanes, engines, and space launches.
On-call accident investigations and hazardous materials inspections would also continue. However, activities such as aviation rulemaking, random drug testing of non-safety staff, and routine background checks would be suspended.
The shutdown would also affect the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which said about 25 percent of its 400 employees would be furloughed, though it would continue investigations into accidents, including the Jan. 29 mid-air collision between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army helicopter that killed 67 people. During 2019, the NTSB furloughed more than 90 percent of staff during the 2019 shutdown.
About 50,000 TSA officers would remain on duty without pay and continue to staff checkpoints nationwide. During the 35-day shutdown in 2019, absences among unpaid TSA and FAA staff grew, slowing security lines and delaying flights in New York until congressional action ended the shutdown.
Airline industry groups cautioned that a government shutdown could trigger widespread disruptions throughout the aviation sector. Airlines for America, representing major carriers like United, Delta, American, and Southwest, warned that funding lapses may force the system to slow down, reducing efficiency and impacting travelers. The U.S. Travel Association projected that such a shutdown could cost the travel industry $1 billion per week.
In total, DOT said 12,213 of its 53,717 employees would be furloughed, while critical functions tied to safety and security would continue without pay until Congress restores funding.