The FAA is not permanently shut down, but it does close during government funding lapses

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operates normally most of the time. However, when Congress does not pass a budget or continuing resolution by the important date, the federal government enters a shutdown. During a shutdown, the FAA continues to manage air traffic and keep flights running — this is considered essential work — but many other FAA functions stop, and employees work without pay until funding resumes.

A shutdown does not ground all flights. The FAA's core mission — directing planes in the air and on the ground — continues. What changes is everything else: safety inspections slow down, new certifications pause, and customer service lines may have reduced staffing. For most passengers, the difference is invisible unless your flight is already delayed or you need to contact the FAA directly.

Shutdowns are temporary. They typically last days to weeks, depending on how long Congress takes to pass a budget. The most recent shutdown lasted 35 days, from December 2018 to January 2019. During that time, flights operated, but the FAA issued a statement that it could not may provide the same level of safety oversight if the shutdown extended much longer.

Key Takeaways

  • The FAA stays open during government shutdowns because air traffic control is essential, so your flight will not be cancelled solely because of a shutdown.
  • Safety inspections, aircraft certifications, and hiring freeze during a shutdown, which can create delays if the shutdown is long.
  • FAA employees work without pay during a shutdown, which can reduce staffing in customer service and some field offices.
  • You can check whether a shutdown is currently happening by visiting the FAA's official website or checking news sources for "government shutdown" status.

What stays open and what closes during an FAA shutdown

Air traffic control towers, radar facilities, and flight service stations remain staffed during a shutdown. Controllers and technicians are considered essential personnel and must work, though they do not receive paychecks until the shutdown ends. This means planes take off and land on schedule, and the airspace is managed the same way it is during normal operations.

What stops: the FAA does not issue new pilot licenses, approve new aircraft designs, conduct routine safety audits at airports, or process applications for new routes. If you are waiting for a medical certificate renewal or a drone waiver, that process pauses. The FAA's public affairs office and customer service lines operate with skeleton crews, so hold times increase if you need to reach someone.

Maintenance and repair work at FAA facilities also slows. If a radar system or navigation aid needs servicing, non-emergency repairs wait. This rarely affects individual flights, but extended shutdowns can create bottlenecks in the system.

How a shutdown can indirectly cause flight delays

A short shutdown — a few days — usually has no visible effect on your flight. A longer one can. When safety inspections pause, airports may not catch maintenance issues as quickly. When hiring freezes, facilities operate with fewer staff, which can slow down repairs and reduce capacity during peak travel times.

The 2018–2019 shutdown lasted long enough that the FAA warned it might have to reduce the number of flights it could safely handle if the shutdown continued. This did not happen, but it showed the limit: a shutdown of several weeks can begin to strain the system.

Weather delays, mechanical issues, and crew scheduling problems are far more common causes of flight delays than FAA shutdowns. A shutdown is a background factor that makes the system slightly more fragile, not usually the direct reason your flight is late.

How to know if a shutdown is happening right now

The FAA does not have a dedicated shutdown status page. Instead, check the U.S. government's official shutdown tracker at shutdowntracker.gov, or search "government shutdown status" in a news search engine. Major news outlets report when ready when a shutdown begins and when it ends.

If you are checking because your flight is delayed, the airline's website or app will tell you the reason — weather, mechanical, crew, or air traffic delay. The airline does not usually list "government shutdown" as a delay reason unless it is directly related, which is rare.

The FAA's main website (faa.gov) remains accessible during a shutdown and usually posts a notice at the top if one is in effect.

What to do if your flight is delayed during a shutdown

Contact your airline first, not the FAA. The airline controls rebooking, refunds, and compensation. The FAA does not handle passenger claims. If your flight is delayed more than three hours on a domestic flight, you may be may have access to to compensation under Department of Transportation rules — this applies whether or not a shutdown is happening.

If you need to reach the FAA for a specific reason — a lost item, a safety concern, or a question about a flight — expect longer wait times during a shutdown. Non-emergency calls may be routed to voicemail. If your concern is urgent, contact your airline or the airport directly; they can escalate to the FAA if needed.

How long shutdowns usually last

Most shutdowns last three to ten days. Congress typically reaches a budget agreement quickly once a shutdown begins because the political and economic pressure is high. The longest shutdown in U.S. history lasted 35 days, from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019.

There is no way to predict how long a shutdown will last once it starts. News outlets track negotiations in real time, so checking a news site gives you the most current information about when one might end.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my flight be cancelled if the FAA is shut down?

No. The FAA keeps air traffic control running during a shutdown because it is essential. Your flight will operate normally unless weather, mechanical problems, or crew issues cause a delay — the same reasons flights are delayed on any other day.

Do I get a refund if my flight is delayed during a shutdown?

Refund and compensation rules do not change during a shutdown. If your flight is delayed more than three hours domestically, you may be may have access to to compensation under Department of Transportation rules. Contact your airline to request compensation; the reason for the delay does not matter.

Can I get a pilot license or aircraft certification during a shutdown?

No. The FAA does not issue new licenses, medical certificates, or aircraft certifications during a shutdown. These processes resume once funding is restored. If you are waiting for a certification, contact the FAA once the shutdown ends to check the status of your process.

How do I know if a shutdown is affecting my specific flight?

Check your airline's website or app for the delay reason. If the reason is listed as "air traffic delay" or "FAA delay," it may be related to staffing or system strain from a shutdown, but this is uncommon. Weather and mechanical delays are far more frequent.

Do FAA employees still work during a shutdown?

Yes. Air traffic controllers and technicians must work, but they do not receive paychecks until the shutdown ends. Other FAA employees are furloughed and do not work. This is why some services slow down — fewer people are available to answer phones or process applications.