Today, Explained Your flights will be canceled
104 snips
Nov 6, 2025 
Joining the discussion are Daryl Campbell, an aviation safety expert from The Verge, and Burgess Everett, a seasoned Congressional bureau chief. They delve into how the government shutdown is intensifying airport chaos, with understaffed TSA and FAA leading to longer lines and safety concerns. Daryl highlights staggering callouts among air traffic controllers, resulting in dangerous operational gaps. Burgess provides insight on the political implications, emphasizing how this shutdown feels uniquely different for lawmakers, influencing negotiations and potential resolutions.
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Shutdown Strains Aviation Operations
- The government shutdown has created operational failures across aviation beyond passenger inconvenience.
- TSA and air traffic controller staffing shortages are degrading airport capacity and safety margins.
Controllers Calling Out Cripple Capacity
- Air traffic controllers have been calling in sick en masse, especially in New York, cutting capacity dramatically.
- One missing controller can remove a third of needed staffing, causing cascading delays across multiple flights.
TSA Shortages Produce Long Lines
- TSA officers, many on low salaries, are skipping shifts or working second jobs because they haven't been paid.
- Houston and Newark experienced multi-hour security lines after hundreds of TSA agents called out.
