Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has revealed an extraordinary offer from the Pentagon during the ongoing government shutdown: military air traffic controllers who lack proper certification for civilian airspace. The unprecedented proposal comes as the Federal Aviation Administration faces critical staffing shortages that threaten to disrupt Thanksgiving travel for millions of Americans.
Unprecedented Military Intervention Proposed
In a startling disclosure on CNN's "State of the Union," Duffy told host Jake Tapper that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had personally reached out with an offer of assistance. "The secretary of war texted me yesterday and said, 'I might have some air traffic controllers. If you could use them, I'm gonna offer them to you,'" Duffy revealed during the Sunday interview.
The Transportation Secretary expressed uncertainty about whether he could legally deploy the military controllers, noting they lack certification for the specific airspaces where they're most needed. However, Duffy indicated he might proceed regardless, stating, "But if I can, I'm going to use them."
The Pentagon has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding this unusual offer of military personnel for civilian air traffic control duties.
Growing Crisis in Air Traffic Control System
The staffing situation has reached critical levels, with Duffy revealing he's currently 1,000 to 2,000 air traffic controllers short of what's needed to safely manage the nation's airspace. The shortage has already prompted the FAA to order reductions in flight schedules, creating ripple effects throughout the aviation system.
Compounding the problem, air traffic controllers haven't received paychecks for weeks due to the government shutdown, creating financial hardship for the essential workers responsible for passenger safety. Duffy acknowledged the human impact, telling Tapper that a "substantial" number of Americans likely won't be able to travel for Thanksgiving due to the disruptions.
Long-Term Consequences Even After Shutdown Ends
Perhaps most alarming is Duffy's warning that the air traffic control crisis will persist long after the government shutdown concludes. The Transportation Secretary revealed that retirement rates among experienced controllers have skyrocketed from approximately 4 per day before the shutdown to 15-20 per day currently.
"So it's going to be harder for me to come back after the shutdown and have more controllers controlling the airspace," Duffy explained. "This is going to live on in air travel well beyond the time frame that this government opens back up."
Duffy defended his actions as purely safety-oriented, stating, "Everyone in this administration — at the direction of President Trump – has said 'minimize the pain on Americans.' So this is not political, this is strictly safety." However, he also placed blame on Democrats, describing the situation as "a mess that Democrats have put in my lap" while vowing to "keep the American people safe and keep airplanes flying."
The situation represents one of the most visible and potentially dangerous consequences of the prolonged government shutdown, with air travel safety hanging in the balance as officials consider unprecedented measures to maintain operations.
