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The record-long government shutdown has made air traffic controllers’ jobs even more stressful, leading to fatigue and increased risks. The update came Monday from Nick Daniels, the president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. Air traffic controllers to miss 2nd paycheck What they're saying: After 41 days without pay, Daniels – the head of the controllers union – said that each day brings new challenges for air traffic controllers. "This is not politics, this is not ideology, this is the erosion of the safety margin the flying public never sees, but America relies on every single day," Daniels said. "The added stress leads to fatigue. The fatigue has led to the erosion of safety and the increased risk every day that this shutdown drags on." A plane takes off near the Hollywood Burbank Airport air traffic control tower on October 6, 2025 in Burbank, California. (Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images) Daniels added that controllers are being used as "political pawns" in the ongoing shutdown dispute. He also warned that the number of controllers retiring or quitting "is growing by the day." "For a workforce that has to go in and be 100 percent, 100 percent of the time, there is no world where it just operates the same and smoothly when people aren’t receiving pay," he said. Why you should care: Most air traffic controllers worked six days a week and put in mandatory overtime even before the shutdown, but they have been doing so without paychecks as lawmakers fail to agree on a way to reopen the government. Tuesday will be the second missed payday for controllers and other FAA employees. It's unclear how quickly they might be paid once the shutdown ends. It took more than two months to receive full back pay after the 35-day shutdown that ended in 2019, Daniels said. Trump pressures controllers to get back to work Dig deeper: During the six weekends since the shutdown began, the average number of 30 air traffic control facilities had staffing issues. That’s almost four times the number on weekends this year before the shutdown, according to an Associated Press analysis of operations plans sent through the Air Traffic Control System Command Center system. President Donald Trump pressured controllers Monday on social media to "get back to work, NOW!!!" He said he wants a $10,000 bonus for controllers who've stayed on the job and suggested docking pay for those who haven't. RELATED: ‘Hopelessness’ among air traffic controllers as government shutdown drags on, expert says The Senate on Monday was nearing a vote to end the shutdown, although it would still need to clear the House, and final passage could still be days away. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made clear last week that flight cuts will remain until the FAA sees safety metrics improve. Over the weekend, airlines canceled thousands of flights to comply with the order to drop 4% of flights at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports. That will rise to 6% on Tuesday and 10% by week's end, the FAA says. One out of every 10 flights nationwide were scratched Sunday — the fourth worst day for cancellations in almost two years, according aviation analytics firm Cirium. The Source: The information for this story was provided during a press conference on November 10, 2025 with NATCA president Nick Daniels. The Associated Press, previous FOX Local reporting contributed. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
