Although the United States has a major shortage of air traffic controllers, those who call in sick rather than work without pay during the federal government shutdown risk being fired, the US transportation secretary has warned.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this week he understands drivers’ frustrations and concerns. But during an appearance Thursday on Fox Business, he said that by calling out sick they are causing major disruptions to air traffic, and that will not be tolerated.
“If we have some of our staff that are not dedicated as we need them to be, we will let them go,” Duffy said, noting that more than 90% of controllers have reported to work during the shutdown. “…It’s a small fraction of people who don’t come to work. They can create this massive disruption. And that’s what we’re seeing in our skies today.”
Airports across the country have experienced delays this week due to a shortage of controllers, more than half of which Duffy attributed to work absences. The worst problems have been at smaller airports in Burbank, California, and Nashville, Tennessee, but there have also been delays at major hubs in Newark, New Jersey, Chicago, Denver and Dallas-Fort Worth.
Even a small number of controllers not showing up for work is causing problems because the Federal Aviation Administration has a critical shortage of them. Duffy has prioritized increasing hiring to try to eliminate shortages in the coming years, but said drivers who are “problem children” could still be fired.
A Department of Transportation spokesperson reinforced that message in a statement Friday, saying, “if there are bad actors who do not intentionally appear and cause disruptions to our operations, consequences are inevitable.”
The controllers union, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, has also stressed that members must continue working during the shutdown.
“We must be clear. NATCA does not condone coordinated activity that disrupts the national airspace system or damages our reputation. Such actions are illegal. They risk your careers and destroy our ability to effectively defend you and your families,” Mick Devine, the union’s executive vice president, said in a video to members.
Like other affected federal workers, controllers are worried about how they will pay their bills during the shutdown when they won’t receive their paychecks. Duffy and the union president have recognized the injustice of their situation, which only adds more stress to their already stressful jobs.
NATCA president Nick Daniels said controllers may have to take time off to work a second job just to make ends meet during the shutdown. But Duffy said right now he believes controllers who miss work are “lashing out” in frustration.
“Over time, when people don’t have money, they will have time to start making decisions and life choices. And it shouldn’t be waiting for air traffic controllers to go broke from having to take out loans, credit card debt, paying bills, gas, groceries, mortgages. Those things are not going to stop,” Daniels said.
Flight disruptions caused by controllers missing work could increase pressure on Congress to reach a deal to end the shutdown. That’s what happened in 2019, but so far Democrats and Republicans have shown few signs of being close to ending their standoff.