Letter: More air traffic controllers needed

This letter originally ran in The Chicago Sun-Times.

The Sun-Times story last week headlined “O’Hare flights delayed as government shutdown hits staffing” is yet another reminder that the federal shutdown is striking our aviation system while it’s still on its knees.

Chicago’s airports already face a severe air traffic controller shortage following years of neglect under Joe Biden’s former Transportation Chief Pete Buttigieg, with staffing hovering well below the federal government’s own targets. Now, with controllers forced to work with partial pay — for now — and training programs that are helping to backfill positions put on pause, delays and disruptions will only deepen for the city’s more than 250,000 daily passengers.

A long-term funding solution that supports air traffic controller training would insulate critical aviation staffing from partisan squabbles. But until then, Congress must act swiftly to get the government running again.

Jackson Shedelbower, executive director, The Center for Transportation Policy, Arlington, Virginia