We Must Avoid a Government Shutdown
September 27, 2025 - A government shutdown doesn’t just put us at risk. It also has negative repercussions that last far beyond the shutdown itself.
Aviation safety depends on government workers. Air Traffic Controllers, FAA Technicians, and Transportation Safety Officers, to name a few, all play a role in keeping our airspace safe. If the government shuts down, many of these essential workers won’t be allowed to work or get paid. And those who are required to work, like Air Traffic Controllers and TSOs, still don’t get paid during the shutdown.
As safety professionals our training teaches that the first rule in safety is to remove all distractions. Our industry has been through many ups and downs. We cannot control the weather, but we can and should commit to steady funding and NO SHUTDOWNS. Safety-sensitive workers forced to show up without pay introduces risk into an already fragile national airspace. And going to work without all of the people who support our operations leaves those on the frontlines without the support necessary to fully support the system and all of the safety functions. At a certain point if there’s too much strain that it the system is unsafe, the planes simply can’t fly.
Our safety is not a political game. There’s too much at stake. As aviation’s first responders, we and our fellow aviation workers deserve better. The flying public deserves better, too. It’s time for Congressional Republicans and the White House to negotiate and keep our government open, on the job, and paying the people who keep us safe.
