FAA Worker Reps Urge Congress To End Shutdown

Government worker unions, including the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) and National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), called on Congress to reach an agreement on federal funding. They reiterated that the government shutdown that started today is threatening critical safety operations, along with plans to modernize the nation’s air traffic control system. 

“At a time when there is much-needed focus and movement to reshape and revamp the nation’s air traffic control system, it is troubling that Congress has not been able to pass a continuing resolution or full appropriations bills for fiscal year 2026,” said PASS national president Dave Spero.

The government shut down at midnight, at the end of fiscal year 2025. With Congress at an impasse over FY2026, funding for federal operations has lapsed. Under the Department of Transportation’s contingency plan released yesterday, more than 11,000 FAA workers would be furloughed.

PASS estimated that due to the shutdown, about 60% of the FAA employees it represents will be on the job but not getting paid; another 30% are furloughed initially but subject to recall, and 10% are outright furloughed.

In total, PASS represents 11,000 FAA and Department of Defense employees who install, maintain, support, and certify ATC and national defense equipment, inspect and oversee the commercial and general aviation sectors, develop flight procedures, and perform quality analyses of ATC systems.

The shutdown is halting training for the technician workforce, including new hires and those at the training academy in Oklahoma City. “It can take three to five years to fully train a technician,” Spero said. “Any lapse in training can push the clock back significantly.”

NATCA, meanwhile, estimated that more than 2,350 aviation safety professionals that it represents are furloughed, including aircraft certification engineers and aerospace engineers, affecting certain safety and technology work, as well as operational support, and comes when many air traffic controllers are already working mandatory overtime.

“Congress must act now to end this shutdown,” said NATCA president Nick Daniels. “When the federal government shuts down, it introduces unnecessary distractions, and our entire aviation system is weakened. Congress must restore federal funding so that the safety and efficiency of our National Airspace System is not compromised.”

Under a shutdown, numerous operations temporarily cease, including controller hiring and training, aviation rulemaking, random drug testing, facility security inspections, security background investigations, operations planning, NextGen technologies development and testing, FAA capital planning and implementation of facilities and equipment programs, and dispute resolution, among other programs.

Activities that would continue, according to the plan, include ATC services, but without pay; maintenance of navigational aids and facilities; flight standards inspections; airworthiness directives; airmen medical certifications; certain certification activities; UAS waivers and exemptions; hazardous materials safety inspections; limited air traffic safety oversight; on-call accident investigations; and the aircraft and airmen registry, among others.

Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) president and CEO Eric Fanning also joined the chorus of those warning of serious consequences of the shutdown.

“America’s aerospace and defense industry, representing more than 2.2 million jobs nationwide, relies on consistent federal investment to remain competitive and secure. This shutdown will disrupt new programs, halt innovation, slow the FAA, and more,” Fanning said.  

Also this week, 50 aviation organizations collectively signed off on a letter urging against a shutdown.