The Fox News Rundown Why Travel Troubles Will Continue Even After The Shutdown Ends
Nov 12, 2025
Mike McCormick, former VP of the FAA's Air Traffic Organization, shares insights on the ongoing government shutdown's impact on air traffic control, detailing staffing shortages and challenges for holiday travel recovery. Dr. Dorothy Fink, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health & Women's Health at HHS, discusses the FDA's recent decision to remove warnings from hormone replacement therapy, highlighting its benefits for menopause management and the importance of addressing women's health issues. Together, they navigate pressing topics affecting travel and health.
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Recovery Needs Two Sequential Steps
- The FAA and airlines face a two-part recovery: lifting FAA scheduling limits and airlines rebuilding operations.
- Full recovery will take several days after the shutdown ends, not instant normalization.
Controllers Took Gig Work And Faced Childcare Strain
- Controllers took gig jobs and lost childcare access, forcing some to miss shifts during the shutdown.
- Mike McCormick described how personal financial pressures compounded on-the-job stress for controllers.
Staff Shortages Predate The Shutdown
- The system was already stressed before the shutdown with ~3,000 controller vacancies and mandatory overtime.
- New controllers take one to three years post-reporting to become fully certified, so staffing fixes are long-term.