As the federal government shutdown entered its second month in early November, State Rep. Tim O'Brien (R-Evansville) warned Indiana travelers to brace for significant disruptions at airports nationwide, with essential workers showing up to their jobs without paychecks in hand.
The shutdown, which began October 1, has forced 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers to work without pay. According to Government Executive, after 31 days without pay, air traffic controllers are under immense stress and fatigue, with half of the nation's Core 30 airports experiencing controller shortages. "Essential workers are asked to keep showing up to work at our airports despite not receiving their paychecks," O'Brien said in a November 6 statement. "These workers are now dealing with serious financial strain and hardship, and they are forced to worry about how they will pay their bills."
Indianapolis Airport Among Affected Facilities
Indianapolis International Airport, which handles approximately 500 TSA workers who continue working without pay, was named among 40 airports nationwide facing mandated 10% flight reductions beginning November 7. As of Monday morning, according to WISH-TV, more than two dozen flights at Indianapolis International Airport were delayed, with 28 cancellations reported by 7 a.m. and 1,500 cancellations nationwide.
The Indianapolis Airport Authority confirmed that restrictions would go into effect on November 7, with airlines determining and communicating schedule changes directly to customers. Drew MacQueen, Great Lakes Regional Vice President for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, told WRTV that "most controllers are working mandatory overtime, six-day work weeks, 10-hour days, which is stressful enough, and having no work-life balance."
Financial Pressure Mounts on Essential Workers
The human cost of the prolonged shutdown became increasingly apparent as November progressed. According to WISH-TV, Indiana TSA Union Representative Myles Wagner reported that workers had their gas and water shut off because they couldn't pay, with some quitting because they couldn't pay their landlords. More than 100 TSA workers in Indiana have already utilized free groceries from Gleaners Food Bank. "We had people quit because they can't pay their landlord, we had people that had their gas and water shut off because they can't pay," Wagner said. "We're in November. Now, it's getting cold."
The situation at major airports across the country proved even more severe. Houston's George Bush Intercontinational Airport saw TSA wait times exceeding three hours, while some passengers at other airports reported waits of up to five hours. As reported by Fortune, TSA agents make an average of $26 an hour and are prohibited from striking as federal workers.
Economic Impact and Safety Concerns
According to White House estimates cited in O'Brien's statement, each week the shutdown continues results in over $1 billion in lost travel-related spending. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned travelers during a CBS News appearance that they could face delays and cancellations for the duration of the shutdown, with wait times at some airports like Houston, LAX, and Orlando being particularly severe.
The Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation announced plans for a 10% reduction in air-traffic capacity across 40 of the busiest U.S. airports to maintain safety protocols amid staffing shortages. CNN reported that Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, warned that "every single day that this goes on tomorrow is now less safe than today," as controllers struggle to maintain focus while worrying about unpaid bills.
Political Stalemate Continues
O'Brien placed responsibility for the continued shutdown squarely on the U.S. Senate, stating that elected officials "are allowing the shutdown to continue unnecessarily, voting 14 times against a continuing resolution to reopen the government." The shutdown, which began on October 1 after Congress failed to pass appropriations legislation, became the longest in U.S. history as of November 5. As NPR reported, Senate Democrats had earlier voted against more than a dozen short-term spending measures in their fight to preserve healthcare subsidies.
However, a breakthrough emerged on November 9 when the Senate voted 60-40 to advance a continuing resolution to reopen the government. According to Al Jazeera, eight Senate Democrats joined Republicans to advance the legislation after a group of centrist Democrats negotiated a deal to reopen the government with a promise to hold a vote on expiring healthcare subsidies by December. "The Senate must come to the table and end the political games, so that federal employees whose work keeps travelers safe every day can receive their paychecks," O'Brien said. "As long as the shutdown drags on, these employees will go unpaid and Hoosier travelers can anticipate delays and cancellations."
Broader Impacts Beyond Air Travel
O'Brien noted that the shutdown has extended beyond airport disruptions, also impacting SNAP recipients, small businesses, and the housing market. The shutdown resulted in the furlough of roughly 900,000 federal employees while keeping another two million working without pay, according to reports on the shutdown.
Editor's Note: A previous version of this article conflated the statements of two different government officials.
