Donald Trump Addresses Airport Delays Amid Government Shutdown
Flight delays across the U.S. stretched into a second day on Tuesday as the government shutdown continued to ripple through the country’s air travel system. With air traffic controllers working without pay, major airports including Denver, Phoenix, Burbank, and Newark started reporting staffing-related slowdowns that left travelers frustrated and grounded.
To catch up on how government shutdowns have previously impacted the nation, check out our related report on federal worker protests during shutdowns for context.
While speaking to reporters, former President Donald Trump decided to share his own take on the chaos. “They’re all Democrat delays. There are delays at the airport that are standard. This is something that, every day, we put forth a bill—it’s just a continuation, and it’s a very simple thing to sign. I really think these are people who have nothing to lose. They have a party that’s out of control. They have no leader. Nobody knows who the leader is,” Trump said.
Whether you agree with him or not, Trump’s remarks once again lit up social media, with critics calling his statement divisive and supporters saying he’s simply “telling it like it is.”
FAA Struggles With Staffing Shortages As Shutdown Impacts Air Travel
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is bracing for deeper staffing shortages as the shutdown drags on. With thousands of federal workers, including air traffic controllers, now working without pay, the situation has become a high-stakes balancing act between keeping flights moving and maintaining safety.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) issued a reminder to its members to avoid any coordinated job actions that could jeopardize flight safety. “Participating in a job action could result in removal from federal service,” the union stated on its website. “It is not only illegal, but it also undermines NATCA’s credibility and severely weakens our ability to effectively advocate for you and your families.”
The FAA confirmed it had not yet triggered a “staffing limit,” which would formally reduce the number of flights in and out of affected airports. Still, passengers are feeling the pinch. Flight tracking site FlightAware reported more than 6,000 delays on Monday—double what was seen just two days before.
Airports have been flooded with frustrated travelers sharing clips of long lines and missed connections, turning terminals into battlegrounds of complaints and chaos.
While officials insist safety remains top priority, patience among both staff and passengers is clearly wearing thin.
Trump’s Comments Spark Political Back-And-Forth Amid Growing Travel Chaos
Trump’s comments, calling the delays “Democrat delays,” added a political spin to an already heated national situation.
Critics pointed out that the FAA is staffed by career federal employees who don’t set policy, while others claimed the shutdown itself—driven by ongoing political gridlock—is what’s truly to blame.
Democrats fired back, accusing Trump of using travelers’ frustrations as a political weapon.
Meanwhile, conservative pundits amplified his statements on social media, saying the “Democrat delays” line reflects the real cost of partisan politics.
For millions of travelers, though, the only concern is getting home safely—and on time. But as the shutdown enters another tense week, the uncertainty looms large over every boarding gate and terminal loudspeaker.