The United States is facing unprecedented travel chaos as the government shutdown reaches its 35th day — the longest in the nation’s history. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reported severe staffing shortages, with up to 80% absenteeism among air traffic controllers in New York and half of major control centers operating with limited personnel. The ongoing crisis, caused by unpaid federal employees, has led to over 16,700 delayed flights and 2,282 cancellations from Friday to Sunday, with thousands more affected since Monday. According to the FAA, around 13,000 air traffic controllers are continuing to work without pay since October 1, but increasing absenteeism is forcing authorities to reduce air traffic volume to maintain safety. Major airports such as Chicago O’Hare, Dallas Fort Worth, Denver, and Newark have experienced major disruptions. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that delays will persist as safety remains the top priority, adding that some controllers have taken secondary jobs to survive. Currently, approximately 670,000 civilian federal employees are on forced leave, while another 730,000 are working without pay, underscoring the widespread impact of the shutdown on essential national operations.