Staff shortages due to the government shutdown are causing delays at US airports

U.S. airports have been hit by widespread delays due to a shortage of air traffic controllers who are working without pay during the federal government shutdown.

Newark Airport, a major hub serving New York City, was grounded Sunday morning. Average delays in Newark are more than three hours and could last into Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration says.

Half of the 30 major US airports are understaffed, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said flights would be canceled in national airspace “to make sure people are safe.”

Nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers are working without pay as the government shutdown enters its second month.

Flight controllers, like other essential federal workers, are required to work without pay during the shutdown, including Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents.

The aviation agency urged lawmakers to end the shutdown so that workers “receive the wages they have earned and passengers avoid further disruptions and delays.”

The FAA said the shortage meant it had to reduce the flow of air traffic “to maintain safety.”

“This could lead to delays or cancellations,” he added.

On Saturday, about 4,500 U.S. flights were delayed and more than 500 were canceled, according to FlightAware. In New York, the largest US city, about 80 percent of air traffic controllers were absent over the weekend, according to the FAA.

Transport Minister Duffy told the ABC on Sunday that the aviation agency would take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of passengers.

“But there is a level of risk that is injected into the system when we have a controller doing two jobs instead of one,” he said.

He added that air traffic controllers are under a lot of stress and work without pay.

“They don’t make a lot of money and so they might be the only person bringing money into the household,” he said.

“They have to make a decision, do I go to work and not get paid and put food on the table? Or do I drive with Uber or DoorDash or do I wait?”

Lawmakers are deadlocked as a Republican-led government funding bill has failed to pass the Senate more than a dozen times.

In exchange for reopening the government, Democrats are seeking to extend tax credits that make health insurance cheaper for millions of Americans.

They are also calling for a reversal of US President Donald Trump’s cuts to Medicaid, a government health care program used by millions of elderly, disabled and low-income people.