The Factors Man founder Brian Kelly explains how the federal government shutdown is exacerbating FAA and air site visitors controller staffing shortages on ‘The Claman Countdown.’
The Hollywood Burbank Airport in California went with out air site visitors controllers for hours on Monday evening amid the federal government shutdown.
A staffing scarcity meant there have been no controllers on obligation between 4:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. native time, and their arrival and departure duties had been reportedly handed off to Southern California Terminal Radar Method Management Amenities (TRACON), based mostly in San Diego, based on FOX11 Los Angeles.
The staffing subject prompted a number of flight cancellations. At 5 p.m., the common flight delay at Hollywood Burbank Airport was two hours and half-hour, the station added, citing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
AIRLINES WARN GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN COULD DISRUPT FLIGHTS, STRAIN AVIATION SYSTEM
The Hollywood Burbank Airport air site visitors management tower stands past a parked United Airways aircraft seen on Oct. 6, 2025. in Burbank, Calif. (Mario Tama/Getty Photographs / Getty Photographs)
The airport didn’t instantly reply Tuesday to a request for remark from FOX Enterprise.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy mentioned at a press convention in New Jersey that, “In a job that’s already stressful, this shutdown has put way more stress on our controllers.”
“So we’re tracking sick calls, sick leave, and we had a slight tick up in sick calls, yes. And then you’ll see delays that come from that,” Duffy mentioned.
AMERICAN AIRLINES JET CANCELS TAKEOFF AFTER LAX RUNWAY INCURSION
The Hollywood Burbank Airport air site visitors management tower stands on Oct. 6, 2025, in Burbank, Calif. (Mario Tama/Getty Photographs / Getty Photographs)
“Because again, our priority… I want to see your flight not be delayed. I don’t want you… I don’t want you canceled. But our priorities are safety. And so, if we have additional sick calls, we will reduce the flow consistent with a rate that’s safe for the American people,” Duffy continued.
“The controllers have to show up for work, right? They have to come to work. They’re part of our critical infrastructure. The problem is they’re going to show up for work, and they’re not going to get paychecks,” Duffy additionally mentioned, describing the results of the continuing authorities shutdown.
Nick Daniels, the president of the Nationwide Air Visitors Controllers Affiliation, is pushing for an finish to the federal government shutdown.
A Southwest Airways aircraft takes off from Hollywood Burbank Airport as one other Southwest aircraft taxis on July 25, 2024, in Burbank, Calif. (Mario Tama/Getty Photographs / Getty Photographs)
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“I’m here to advocate for the end to the shutdown. We need to bring this shutdown to a close so that the Federal Aviation Administration and the committed aviation safety professionals can put this distraction in focus, put this distraction behind us, and completely focus on their vital work,” he mentioned alongside Duffy.
