As the government shutdown drags into its third week, affecting countless federal employees, those on the front lines of air travel— from TSA agents at security checkpoints to air traffic controllers overseeing busy skies— have been working tirelessly for 20 days without pay.
In Jacksonville, Florida, the prolonged shutdown, which now ranks as the third longest in U.S. history, has prompted local lawmakers to take action. Politicians on the First Coast are rallying behind a new legislative proposal aimed at safeguarding the financial well-being of Federal Aviation Administration employees, who continue to perform their duties despite the absence of a paycheck.
Representative Aaron Bean of District 4 acknowledges the potential disaster that could ensue should these critical workers begin calling out sick en masse or walking off the job. With the region’s airspace already crowded due to multiple airports, military installations, and space launches, such disruptions could have severe consequences.
To address this pressing issue, Rep. Bean is championing The Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2025. This proposed legislation seeks to utilize the Airport and Airway Trust Fund to ensure that essential personnel, such as those in TSA lines or air traffic control towers, continue to receive their pay even during government funding lapses.
The trust fund, which is primarily financed through taxes included in airline tickets and fuel surcharges, aims to provide a financial buffer for these crucial employees, maintaining operational stability in the aviation sector amid political impasses.
Reflecting on past experiences, Congressman Bean noted, “During the last major shutdown in 2019, by day 35, we saw numerous air traffic controllers and other vital FAA staff calling out sick.” His initiative seeks to prevent a recurrence of such disruptions and ensure the aviation industry remains resilient in the face of governmental gridlock.
Congressman Bean warns that if these essential FAA workers call out sick, you could see major delays and disruptions on your travel day—something lawmakers hope to avoid with this proposed bill.
District 18 Representative Kim Kendall dedicated her career before politics to being the “eyes of the sky,” working as an air traffic controller at the Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center.
She adds that this bill could make a major difference, as airports were already dealing with staff shortages before the shutdown.
“When you stop moving your modes of transportation, the United States stops moving. We have to move all different kinds of goods and services and people,” explained Rep. Kim Kendall, District 18.
For impacted FAA employees, they will be eventually be paid once the government reopens; however, that timeline still remains unknown.
