NATCA Chief to U.S. Policymakers: End the Shutdown

National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) president Nick Daniels issued a plea for unity and action to the aviation community to end the U.S. government shutdown at the NBAA-BACE Newsmakers Luncheon on Monday. He warned that the ongoing shutdown is placing strain on the nation’s air traffic controllers and, by extension, the National Airspace System.

“Please understand my comments today will be passionate,” Daniels began. “There’s a reason for that passion, because I’m pleading with you—not to you, but with you—as a leader in aviation.”

Daniels thanked NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Missouri) for their partnership and advocacy. But his remarks quickly turned to the human cost of the shutdown: “America’s air traffic controllers—we didn’t ask to be the focus of this shutdown. Yet they’re carrying the full weight of the shutdown, day in and day out.”

Controllers, Daniels noted, are continuing to manage more than 45,000 aircraft and 3 million passengers daily, despite the uncertainty and not receiving paychecks. “There is no version where an American worker can work six days a week and not know how to plan to take care of their family,” he said.

“The calls have already begun…controllers are starting to look for a second job, going to their primary job during the day, and then figuring out, ‘How many hours can I go and drive an Uber to put food on the table next week?’”

He warned that as the shutdown continues, “We’ll begin seeing an entirely new introduction of risk into this National Airspace System, starting now.” With the workforce already short nearly 3,800 certified controllers, he said, the added distraction of financial stress compounds the safety threat.

Daniels also emphasized the vital role of communication and unity in maintaining safety, urging aviation leaders to speak out. “We talk about being together. We talk about communicating for safety,” he said. “Well, now we’re communicating for safety by talking about how people live day in and day out, with no paycheck in sight.”

Concluding his remarks, Daniels issued a blunt message to policymakers: “To those responsible for the shutdown, one message: End it now.”