Air traffic controllers will miss their first paychecks next week due to the ongoing government shutdown, raising concerns about potential flight delays and cancellations, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned.

The FAA is already facing staffing shortages, and missed pay could worsen recruitment and retention, increasing pressure on controllers who are already overworked and fatigued.

Historically, during the 2019 shutdown, similar pay disruptions led to flight limitations at major airports.

Duffy emphasized that flight operations will depend on controllers continuing to show up despite financial strain, and further missed paychecks could force some to stop working, Axios has reported.

The situation adds to mounting pressure on lawmakers to resolve the shutdown as air travel disruptions threaten safety and efficiency.