Transportation Secretary Warns Agency May Have to Close Airspace Next Week

‘You may see us close certain parts of the airspace,’ Secretary Sean Duffy said, citing a shortage of air traffic controllers.
Transportation Secretary Warns Agency May Have to Close Airspace Next Week
Aircraft park at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va., on Oct. 28, 2025. Alex Wong/Getty Images
Jack Phillips
Jack Phillips
Breaking News Reporter
|Updated:
0:00

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that his agency might have to close sections of the U.S. airspace next week due to the ongoing government shutdown, citing a lack of air traffic controllers.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Duffy said that if the government isn’t reopened soon, there will be “mass chaos” including flight delays, flight cancellations, and the closure of airspace in some areas.
Jack Phillips
Jack Phillips
Breaking News Reporter
Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter who covers a range of topics, including politics, U.S., and health news. A father of two, Jack grew up in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
twitter