Air Traffic Controllers Union Boss Blasts Schumer, Dems For Prolonging Shutdown
President Nick Daniels of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has issued an urgent warning to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democratic leaders, stating that the ongoing federal government shutdown is jeopardizing the safety of U.S. airspace. The shutdown, now poised to become the longest in American history, has severely strained the nation’s air traffic control system and the workers who keep it operating.
NATCA, which represents more than 10,800 certified air traffic controllers across the United States, has repeatedly demanded that Congress pass a clean continuing resolution (CR) to immediately reopen the government. The House approved such a measure a month ago, but partisan disagreements have stalled progress in the Senate. Democrats have repeatedly tied the resolution to unrelated legislative demands, prolonging the political stalemate.
Daniels highlighted that air traffic controllers, classified as essential federal employees, continue to report to work despite receiving no pay. Thousands of them are working extended schedules — six-day weeks with 10-hour shifts — to compensate for a national shortage of roughly 3,800 controllers. Meanwhile, their paychecks have stopped arriving, with workers reportedly missing multiple pay periods since October 28, amounting to over 120 hours of unpaid labor for many.
“These American patriots, they are the unsung heroes that Secretary Duffy speaks about so often. They are the ones that have been thrust into the spotlight, into center focus of a shutdown. And air traffic controllers, we don’t start shutdowns, we’re not responsible for ending shutdowns. Who does? Congress,” Daniels said in a recent interview.
His remarks underscore the financial and emotional toll facing federal aviation personnel. Support staff, including engineers and technicians, have also been furloughed — freezing vital maintenance and training operations nationwide. Industry experts warn that the prolonged shutdown is beginning to weaken safety protocols, creating operational risks in an already overstretched system.
As delays and cancellations ripple through airports, the public’s frustration has grown, while lawmakers remain locked in a political standoff with no resolution in sight.