Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) criticized President Donald Trump on Monday as travelers in Los Angeles faced major flight disruptions caused by the ongoing government shutdown.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that air traffic control towers at Hollywood Burbank Airport would be unmanned until at least 10 p.m. local time.
Newsom posted on X, blaming Trump for the staffing shortages that led to the situation.
“Thanks, @realDonaldTrump! Burbank Airport has ZERO air traffic controllers from 4:15pm to 10pm today because of YOUR government shutdown,” Newsom wrote.
The White House responded with an automated message after being contacted for comment by the Daily Mail.
The reply attributed responsibility for the shutdown to Democrats in Congress.
“Due to staff shortages resulting from the Democrat Shutdown, the typical 24/7 monitoring of this press inbox may experience delays,” the message read.
“As you await a response, please remember this could have been avoided if the Democrats voted for the clean Continuing Resolution to keep the government open.”
With no air traffic controllers on site, management of Burbank Airport arrivals and departures shifted to TRACON, a regional air traffic control team based in San Diego that already handles a significant portion of the airport’s flight coordination.
An FAA spokesperson told ABC7 that the agency was working to get staff to Burbank before 10 p.m. local time. For now, however, the control tower remains unstaffed.
The FAA also reported staffing-related disruptions at airports in Denver and Newark.
Denver International Airport experienced ground delays averaging 40 minutes, while Newark Liberty International Airport reported delays nearing an hour, according to The New York Times.
It remains unclear how long these shortages will continue or how many air traffic controllers have stopped reporting for work.
The federal government shutdown has entered its sixth day, with negotiations in the Senate showing no sign of progress.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Monday that the shutdown has increased stress on air traffic controllers who already operate under demanding conditions.
He also warned that the disruption threatens key programs, including one that subsidizes air service to smaller communities.
Duffy noted that controllers are continuing to work without pay, adding financial anxiety to their daily responsibilities.
“Now what they think about as they’re controlling our airspace is, how am I going to pay my mortgage? How do I make my car payment? I have a couple kids at home. How do I put food on the table?” Duffy said, per the Daily Mail.
“I’m working six days a week. Do I have to take a second job and drive Uber when I’m already exhausted from doing a job that’s already stressful?”
He added that while the FAA’s air traffic controller academy in Oklahoma City remains open for now with leftover funds, the shutdown could still slow progress on hiring and training new personnel.
Support staff responsible for training newly certified controllers could be laid off if the shutdown continues, Duffy said.
Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, avoided political statements but called for an immediate end to the shutdown.
“We need to bring this shutdown to a close, so that the Federal Aviation Administration and the committed aviation safety professionals can put this distraction behind us, and completely focus on their vital work,” Daniels said.
Duffy reported a small increase in the number of air traffic controllers calling out sick in recent days.
If absenteeism grows, he warned, the FAA may have to reduce the number of takeoffs and landings nationwide, leading to longer delays and possible cancellations.
The Transportation Secretary also cautioned that the Essential Air Service program—which funds flights to smaller communities—will soon exhaust its financial reserves.
Duffy said the program enjoys bipartisan backing and provides critical air connectivity, particularly in remote areas such as Alaska where flying is often the only means of travel.
“That money runs out this Sunday,” Duffy stated.
“So there’s many small communities across the country that will now no longer have the resources to make sure they have air service in their community.”
As the shutdown persists, airports nationwide continue to experience disruptions and travelers remain uncertain about when normal operations will resume.
