A veteran air traffic controller issued a chilling warning: Newark Liberty International Airport is unsafe for travelers due to severe staffing shortages. “Avoid Newark at all costs,” the controller urged, as reported by MSNBC’s Tom Costello, who called the unsolicited statement “incredible.” The controller, tasked with managing Newark’s airspace, emphasized, “It is not safe. It is not a safe situation right now for the flying public.” This alarming alert has thrust the nation’s air traffic control (ATC) system into the spotlight, revealing a crisis rooted in decades of systemic issues, not merely recent political decisions.
The warning coincides with chaos at Newark, where FlightAware reported 210 delays and 88 cancellations on May 4, with over 270 flights delayed the previous day. United Airlines, a dominant carrier at the airport, slashed 35 daily flights starting May 3, citing a 20% walkout by controllers. The FAA, acknowledging staffing shortages, confirmed Newark cannot handle its scheduled traffic, implementing ground delay programs causing over two-hour delays. Travelers have faced cancellations, diversions, and delays stretching past five hours, compounded by runway construction, gusty winds, and FAA technology outages. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA has urged airlines to cut flights, pointing to a decade of underfunding in staffing and resources.
A Systemic Problem, Not a New One
The Newark crisis is a symptom of a nationwide ATC staffing shortage that predates the current administration. In 2020, the FAA employed 14,242 controllers, including 10,268 Certified Professional Controllers (CPCs). By 2023, total controllers dropped to 13,853, but CPCs rose to 10,593, reflecting progress in training certified staff despite retirements. In 2024, the FAA hired 1,811 controllers, surpassing its 1,800 target, yet the total workforce grew by only 36 due to retirements averaging 308 annually through 2033.
The roots of this shortage trace back to the 1981 PATCO strike, when President Reagan fired over 10,000 controllers, requiring nearly a decade to rebuild the workforce. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted training for about two years, delaying certifications as older controllers retired. Training a controller takes 16 months, with nearly half failing to certify, meaning full staffing could take 8-9 years. As of September 2023, airport towers had 7,047 controllers, 2,000 short of the 8,966 goal, and en route facilities had 4,531, 1,136 below target. Only 23 of 313 FAA facilities met staffing goals, with over 90% of towers understaffed in 2023.
Controllers often work six-day weeks, 10-hour shifts, and combine positions to maintain safety, raising concerns about fatigue. Yet, the FAA and controllers insist the system remains secure, with Administrator Mike Whitaker praising their dedication: “Our controllers keep the flying public safe every day.”
Political Finger-Pointing Misses the Mark
Liberal critics, like former Obama aide Dan Pfeiffer, have seized on the Newark warning to attack the Trump administration, with Pfeiffer sarcastically tweeting, “Great work elonmusk,” targeting Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). They point to the FAA’s February 2025 cut of 400 employees, claiming it jeopardized safety. However, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy clarified that no controllers or critical safety personnel were let go—only support staff, such as those producing navigation maps. The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union noted 130 of these workers supported controllers, but a federal judge reinstated 132 on March 17, 2025, bolstering operations.
Reports of DOGE attempting to fire controllers were rebuffed by Duffy, and no such firings occurred. The reality is that staffing shortages are a decades-long issue, not a Trump-era creation. Under his leadership, the FAA has “supercharged” hiring, achieving 1,811 new controllers in 2024, the most in nearly a decade. Duffy’s May 2 announcement of a $5,000 bonus for academy graduates further demonstrates proactive steps to rebuild the workforce.
Safety Concerns and Broader Challenges
The January 29, 2025, mid-air collision near Washington D.C., killing 67, has fueled safety debates. The crash, involving an American Airlines jet and a US Army Black Hawk, was primarily linked to flawed airspace design around Reagan National, per the NTSB’s March 11 preliminary report. Staffing was “not normal,” with one controller handling two positions, but the union cautioned against deeming this unsafe. Since January, 143 deaths have occurred in 36 US aviation incidents, though investigations are down from prior years.
Flight delays in 2025 stem from multiple factors, not just ATC. Pilot and ground crew shortages, weather, and events like the July 2024 CrowdStrike outage have disrupted travel. Proposals to reduce traffic at peak times at airports like Newark could ease pressure, but the administration’s focus on hiring and training offers a long-term fix.
A Path Forward
The Newark warning underscores a real challenge, but panic and political blame are misguided. The Trump administration’s record hiring and incentives signal a commitment to safety, building on a system that, despite strains, remains robust. As Duffy noted, “We’re fixing issues before they become incidents.” Rather than scapegoating, Americans should support these efforts to ensure our skies stay safe.
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