Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warns air traffic controllers who call out sick during shutdown could be fired

Despite the significant shortage of air traffic controllers in the U.S., those who call in sick during the federal government shutdown risk termination, according to a warning from the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged this week the challenges and worries faced by controllers.

However, in a Thursday appearance on Fox Business, he emphasized that calling in sick creates significant disruptions in air traffic, which will not be tolerated.

“If we have personnel who aren’t as dedicated as necessary, we will let them go,” Duffy remarked, indicating that more than 90% of controllers have been reporting for duty amid the shutdown.

“A small number of individuals not attending work can lead to major disruptions, which are evident across our skies today.”

This week, airports nationwide are seeing delays largely due to a controller shortage, with Duffy attributing more than half of these issues to employee no-shows.

The most significant delays have been observed at smaller airports in Burbank, California, and Nashville, Tennessee, but major hubs like Newark, New Jersey, Chicago, Denver, and Dallas-Fort Worth have also experienced setbacks.

The minimal workforce present is causing issues given the Federal Aviation Administration‘s critical shortage of controllers.

Duffy has prioritized efforts to ramp up hiring to address the shortage in the upcoming years, yet mentioned that controllers marked as “problematic” could still be dismissed.

A spokesperson for the Transportation Department reiterated this sentiment in a statement on Friday, stressing that, “if there are rare individuals who intentionally don’t show up and disrupt operations, there will be consequences.”

The controllers’ union, the National Association of Air Traffic Controllers (NATCA), has underscored the importance for its members to continue working during the shutdown.

“It is essential to clarify that NATCA does not support any organized actions that disrupt the national airspace system or damage our reputation. Such actions are unlawful and could jeopardize our careers and our capacity to advocate effectively for our families,” emphasized Mick Devine, executive vice president of the union, in a message to members.

Like many federal employees affected by the shutdown, controllers are anxious about how they will manage their financial responsibilities without paychecks during this time.

Duffy and the president of the union have both recognized the unfair circumstances faced by controllers, which only add to their job-related stress.

NATCA President Nick Daniels mentioned that controllers may have to take time off to pursue additional employment just to get by during the shutdown.

However, Duffy believes that the controllers missing work are simply reacting out of frustration.

“Eventually, when individuals lack funds, they start making tough life choices. It shouldn’t come down to air traffic controllers facing a breaking point because they’ve taken out loans or incurred credit card debt to manage bills, groceries, and mortgages,” stated Daniels.

Flight disruptions caused by absentee controllers may heighten the urgency for Congress to resolve the ongoing shutdown.

This scenario mirrors events from 2019, yet current indicators suggest little progress towards an agreement between Democrats and Republicans.