Department of Transportation may close parts of airspace if government shutdown continues, Duffy says

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Tuesday that the U.S. might be forced to close parts of its airspace if staffing shortages amid the government shutdown continue.

The shutdown, which is dragging into its second month, has meant essential workers, including air traffic controllers, have been working without pay. This has led to a shortage of anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 controllers, according to Duffy.

“So if you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos,” Duffy said during a news briefing with the SEPTA rail system on Tuesday. “You will see mass flight delays. You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace because we just cannot manage it, because we don’t have the air traffic controllers.”

Flight delays and cancellations have been piling up in airports across the U.S. following the government shutdown, which the White House blames on Democrats.

Duffy said the matter will get worse as the shutdown drags on.