Overview
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he cannot guarantee flights will depart on time or avoid cancellation, citing day‑to‑day controller attendance.
- Airports are already posting heavy delays, with 19,000 flights delayed from Saturday to Monday, and DOT officials caution that cancellations could follow if staffing declines.
- The Senate is set to vote on Senator Ron Johnson’s proposal to use Treasury funds to pay controllers, but the measure faces long odds in a partisan standoff.
- Trade and border operations continue on a limited basis as CBP remains largely active while Treasury refunds are suspended and several licensing reviews are deprioritized, increasing risk for regulated and perishable shipments.
- Oxford Economics estimates each shutdown week could shave 0.1–0.2 percentage points from annual GDP—about $7.6–$15.2 billion—while logistics firms report mounting strain across airport and freight networks.