The head of the air traffic controllers’ union warned that the government shutdown, now in its 36th day, could take weeks for the industry to recover.

Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said the holiday season will be severely affected by staffing shortages, as controllers missed their first full paycheck last week.

Essential employees, including air traffic controllers and TSA screeners, are working without pay, and Daniels warned that long-term impacts could include resignations and ongoing disruptions.

The industry is already 300–400 controllers short compared to 2019, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy noted a 2,000–3,000 controller shortfall from ideal staffing levels, CNBC has reported.

While he has not yet closed U.S. airspace, Duffy said continued shutdown delays could become severe.