Month: November 2025

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a stark warning Sunday that U.S. air travel could grind nearly to a halt in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving if the government shutdown continues, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) faces severe air traffic control shortages.

The FAA’s staffing crisis has forced widespread flight reductions at more than 40 major airports nationwide. Duffy said 81 “staffing triggers” were reported Saturday, prompting operational changes across the national airspace. At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the country’s busiest, “18 of 22 controllers didn’t show up,” he noted.

Duffy said in an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper on State of the Union: “It’s only going to get worse. The two weeks before Thanksgiving, you’re going to see air travel be reduced to a trickle.” Duffy explained that many controllers are choosing to stay home as they face financial hardships caused by the prolonged government shutdown. “I want them to come to work. The problem is, they’re confronted with real economic problems. The answer is, vote to open up the government and then have your debates, have your conversation. I think that’s the best way, best approach, to get America back operational.”

As of Sunday morning, more than 1,500 flights had been canceled and over 4,000 delayed, according to FlightAware. Those figures follow 1,550 cancellations on Saturday and 1,025 on Friday. The FAA reported that 42 airport towers were experiencing staffing shortages that delayed flights in at least a dozen major cities, including Atlanta, Newark, San Francisco, Chicago, and New York.

To manage the shortages, the FAA implemented ground delay programs at several major hubs, including Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Newark Liberty, Houston Hobby, George Bush Intercontinental, Nashville, Chicago O’Hare, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and New York’s JFK and LaGuardia airports. These measures slow down air traffic to ensure safety but significantly limit the number of flights moving through affected airspace.

The FAA said the reductions amount to roughly a 4% cut in flight capacity this weekend, projected to climb to 6% by Tuesday, 8% by Thursday, and up to 10% by Friday if the shutdown persists.

Despite the growing disruption, Duffy assured travelers that safety remains the agency’s top priority, saying: “We’re working overtime to make sure that it is safe to travel. If we have staffing triggers in locations in the American airspace, what we will do is, we will slow traffic, which means you will have delays, and then airlines might cancel flights.”

Still, Duffy acknowledged the mounting strain on both the system and the workforce. “Next Friday, it’s going to be at 10% to reduce the pressure on controllers. The problem is that as I try to reduce the pressure by lowering flights, I have more controllers that keep not coming to work. And so the pressure goes back up again.”

With the holiday travel season fast approaching, Duffy warned that if the shutdown isn’t resolved soon, “many people hoping to get home for Thanksgiving are not going to be able to get on an airplane, because there are not going to be that many flights that fly if this thing doesn’t open back up.”

Editorial credit: Joshua Sukoff / Shutterstock.com

A police pursuit through Tampa early Saturday turned deadly when a speeding driver lost control and crashed into a packed bar patio, killing four people and injuring 13 others.

According to the Tampa Police Department, the chase began around 12:40 a.m. after law enforcement air patrol spotted a vehicle driving erratically along Interstate 275. The Florida Highway Patrol initiated pursuit of the driver, identified as 22-year-old Silas Kenneth Sampson, and attempted a PIT maneuver—a tactic meant to force a fleeing car to spin and stop—but it was unsuccessful. After the failed maneuver, the Highway Patrol reportedly ended its active pursuit before the crash occurred. Investigators say there is “no evidence to indicate that Sampson’s actions were targeted toward any specific persons or businesses.”

Dash and aerial footage released by authorities show the suspect vehicle continuing at high speed before veering off and slamming into Bradley’s, a well-known LGBTQ bar in the city’s Ybor neighborhood. The impact scattered debris across the street and left multiple people trapped beneath wreckage. Three people died at the scene, and a fourth later succumbed to injuries at the hospital. Of the 13 injured, two remain in critical condition, seven are stable, and several have since been discharged or treated at the scene. Officials have not released the victims’ names.

Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw stated: “What happened this morning was a senseless tragedy, our hearts are with the loved ones of the victims and all those who were impacted. Reckless driving put innocent lives in danger. The Tampa Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol are committed to seeking justice for the victims and their families.”

The establishment said in a statement that the incident was ‘horrific’ and that the bar will remain closed until Monday: Bradley Nelson, the owner of Bradley’s on 7th, shared in a statement: “This event has been very traumatic for my entire staff, and myself. Our thoughts and prayers go to the families of those who were killed, and to all the injured. Bradley’s on 7th is known for being a very tight-knit family of employees and customers. Our customers are very loyal and have made Bradley’s on 7th what it is today. They are truly part of our family. We ask you to remember all those killed and injured in your prayers, as we do the same. I cannot say enough about the expert job done by the Tampa Police Department, Hillsborough County Sheriff Office and the Florida Highway Patrol and all the involved EMS teams. The speed in which this event was handled, should be noted by all.”

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor wrote on X: “What happened in Ybor City last night was devastating. Families are grieving, first responders are hurting, and our entire city feels this loss. My thoughts are with everyone affected. The investigation continues, and our commitment to keeping our community safe has never been stronger.”

The suspect is charged with four counts of vehicular homicide and four counts of aggravated fleeing to elude serious bodily injury or death, according to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) records. He is being held at the Falkenburg Road Jail without bond.

Editorial credit: Chad Robertson Media / Shutterstock.com