10.01.25 – Funding Lapse Results in Federal Government Shutdown

Funding Lapse Results in Federal Government Shutdown

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Congress and the White House have failed to fund the government, and as of today the federal government is now shut down. Flight Attendants work in a highly-regulated industry that depends on government workers being able to perform their job duties. Our industry is safety-sensitive where all layers of our safety and security systems must remain focused on one thing: aviation safety. Today, hundreds of thousands of government workers not deemed “essential” – including FAA employees – have been furloughed, and threats have even been levied to never return them to work.

APFA, along with many Labor and industry stakeholders, wrote a letter that detailed the detriments of a government shutdown on the aviation industry:

“Shutdowns are extremely detrimental to the passengers and shippers as well as the aviation community because they force the FAA to, among other things, suspend air traffic controller and technician hiring and training, delay the implementation of safety initiatives, postpone maintenance and repair work to critical air traffic equipment, suspend air carrier pilot check rides, delay airworthy inspections for aircraft, defer the analysis of voluntary safety reporting, and suspend work on modernization programs. During a shutdown, many FAA employees are furloughed, meaning that they cannot perform their duties that support aviation safety, aircraft certification, and the integration of new entrants—which limits U.S. innovation in aerospace. Additionally, infrastructure programs related to modernization are suspended, such as the construction of new facilities, upgrading of runways and installation of new equipment. The ensuing backlogs cause cascading delays in these critical FAA services long after funding is restored.

Although air traffic controllers, technicians, and other exempted aviation safety professionals continue to work without pay during a shutdown, many other FAA employees who support them are furloughed. To maintain our position as the world leader in aviation, we must always strive to improve safety and efficiency and continuously work further to mitigate risk. The air traffic controller and technician staffing shortage continues to be a critical problem, and a shutdown would make this problem worse by delaying an already-lengthy hiring and training process. During previous shutdowns, the FAA was required to suspend all hiring and close its training academy in Oklahoma City, which takes additional time to restart after a shutdown ends.”

We saw what happened during the 35-day shutdown in 2018-2019. Air Traffic Controllers were required to come to work without pay. Air traffic control training facilities shut down and never caught up to the backlog. FAA Inspectors were required to come to work without pay. TSA Officers (TSOs) were required to come to work without pay, many living paycheck-to-paycheck. We heard the stories of TSOs sleeping in their cars to save money on gas, or not making it to work because they couldn’t afford to buy gas. We heard stories of longer airport security lines because TSOs had to find other jobs to pay the bills. Travelers and Flight Attendants experienced delays as security lines got longer, and our air traffic control system faced further stress.

Not only do shutdowns stop necessary government functions, shutdown procedures begin in the weeks before a potential shutdown and reopening procedures occupy the weeks after government reopening. In 2019, federal workers were back-paid for the 35-day work stoppage. Government shutdowns are not only inefficient, they are also costly to taxpayers.

APFA Government Affairs will continue to monitor any impacts to aviation safety. We urge Congress and the White House to negotiate the reopening the federal government and the many services upon which the American people depend.

In Solidarity,

Allie Malis
APFA Government Affairs Representative

Lori Glattly
APFA Government Affairs Representative

[email protected]