# Shutdown Chaos Reveals Deeper ATC Problems 

The government shutdown exposed a vulnerability Americans can’t afford to ignore: air traffic control chaos caused by understaffing that’s 10 times worse than normal.

November 25, 2025 • News Releases 

The government shutdown exposed a vulnerability Americans can’t afford to ignore: air traffic control chaos caused by understaffing that’s 10 times worse than normal.

Cato scholars [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) and [Romina Boccia](https://www.cato.org/people/romina-boccia) explain that this wasn’t just a temporary glitch: the shutdown worsened a chronic controller shortage fueled in part by politics. Case in point: Oklahoma legislators blocked plans for a second FAA training academy to protect their state’s monopoly on controller training. The entire nation bears the cost in delays and increased safety risks so that one state can maintain its political advantage.”

The solution? Follow Canada’s lead. Since privatizing its system in 1996, that nation has become a global leader in air traffic control innovation and performance. Edwards and Boccia argue that separating ATC from our failing FAA would give the industry the flexibility, funding stability, and innovation needed to serve Americans safely and efficiently.

If you’d like to speak with Edwards or Boccia, please reach out to Madison: [mmiller@​cato.​org](mailto:mmiller@cato.org).

**Related Commentary:**

- [The Shutdown Shows Why America Should Follow Canada’s Lead in Privatizing Air Traffic Control](https://www.cato.org/blog/shutdown-shows-why-america-should-follow-canadas-lead-privatizing-air-traffic-control)
- [Air Traffic—Control or Chaos?](https://www.cato.org/blog/air-traffic-control-or-chaos)
- [Air Traffic Control: It’s Management, Not Money](https://www.cato.org/blog/air-traffic-control-its-management-not-money)
- [Trump Should Privatize Air Traffic Control](https://www.cato.org/blog/trump-should-privatize-air-traffic-control)

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