The United States is facing a severe air travel crisis that authorities warn will intensify, potentially bringing flight operations to a near standstill as the federal government shutdown continues into its 40th day.
Thanksgiving Travel in Jeopardy
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy delivered a stark warning Sunday, stating that air travel could be reduced to a trickle in the two weeks leading up to Thanksgiving if the funding impasse between Democrats and Republicans persists. The November 27 holiday typically marks one of the busiest travel periods of the year, but this year millions of Americans might find themselves stranded.
"It's only going to get worse," Duffy declared during an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union." "The two weeks before Thanksgiving, you're going to see air travel be reduced to a trickle." He emphasized that many travelers won't be able to board planes because significantly fewer flights will operate if the government doesn't reopen.
Massive Disruption Across Major Airports
The travel chaos became particularly evident on Sunday, November 9, 2025, when more than 1,330 flights were cancelled or delayed for routes within the United States and international flights to and from the country, according to data from flight tracking platform FlightAware.
Airports experiencing the most severe impacts included all three major New York City area airports, Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, and Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. The Trump administration had ordered flight reductions to ease the strain on air traffic controllers who have been working without pay throughout the shutdown.
Political Blame Game Intensifies
As the travel situation deteriorates, political finger-pointing has escalated. Transportation Secretary Duffy attempted to pin responsibility on Democrats for the ongoing standoff. However, Senator Adam Schiff countered that Republicans were rejecting what he characterized as a "reasonable" compromise deal to end the shutdown.
"And the result from the Senate Republicans was 'no,' from the House Republicans 'we are staying on vacation,' and from the president 'I'm going out to play golf,' and that's where we are while people are hurting," Schiff stated during an appearance on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."
The California Democrat indicated that healthcare subsidies remain a significant sticking point in negotiations, suggesting Democrats won't support a deal that jeopardizes health coverage for millions of Americans.
Duffy offered a grim prediction about the workforce situation, telling Fox News Sunday that very few air traffic controllers are likely to continue working without pay, which would mean dramatically reduced flight operations. "You're going to have massive disruption and a lot of angry Americans," he warned.
With the shutdown now lasting 40 days and marking the third day of reduced flight operations at airports nationwide, travelers face unprecedented uncertainty during what should be one of the most predictable travel seasons of the year.
