Washington, Oct 31 (NationPress) The current US government shutdown, which has now reached the one-month mark, has raised significant alarms within the aviation industry as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other agencies grapple with reduced personnel and unpaid essential workers.

At a White House meeting on Thursday, Vice President JD Vance cautioned that if the deadlock continues, it could lead to an air travel “meltdown” next month, pointing out that controllers might miss three or more paychecks. “It could be a disaster, it really could be,” Vance remarked after discussions with aviation industry leaders. He expressed concern that the delays could escalate to a level that “makes it very, very hard for the American people to fly.”

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who also spoke at the event, urged Democrats not to “hold American families’ travel hostage.”

“Our traffic will be snarled. It will be a disaster in aviation,” Duffy added.

Data from unions indicate that numerous controllers have already sought secondary employment, such as delivering food, driving ride-shares, or tutoring, following the missed first full paycheck. The staffing deficit has compelled the FAA to implement “ground delay programs” at major airports due to insufficient personnel.

Significant hubs, including Newark Liberty International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, have already faced ground stops and delays as understaffed towers led the FAA to impose flow restrictions.

Experts in the industry warn that the situation could worsen as the travel peak in November and the holiday season approaches. Duffy mentioned that many controllers may find it challenging to continue their roles if the pay gap extends into multiple missed pay periods, and “you’re going to have mass issues starting in the airspace.”

The FAA has also stated that the recruitment and training of new controllers, already hindered by previous budget issues, have been suspended during the shutdown, further diminishing the pipeline of new staff available to alleviate the stressed system.

The shutdown persists with no immediate resolution in sight.

Republicans have accused Democrats of seeking healthcare subsidies for illegal immigrants, a claim that Democrats dismiss as a false narrative propagated by the Trump administration.

Democrats assert they are advocating to reverse the healthcare cuts impacting American citizens in the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which was enacted earlier this year.