Flights at Hollywood Burbank Airport faced major delays Monday after the airport’s air traffic control tower was left unmanned due to staffing shortages caused by the ongoing government shutdown, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The FAA confirmed that the control tower was without staff from 4:15 p.m. and is expected to remain unmanned until around 10 p.m., spokesperson Kristen Alsop said. The shortage comes as air traffic controllers continue to work without pay during the shutdown, leading to a small rise in workers calling in sick, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
By 5 p.m., outgoing flights from Burbank were delayed an average of two hours and 31 minutes, with some delays reaching nearly four hours, the FAA reported. Alsop said staffing shortages were the main cause, along with ongoing runway construction.
Despite the unmanned tower, Southern California TRACON — an FAA-operated radar facility based in San Diego — is managing air traffic in the Burbank airspace to ensure flight safety.
California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized President Trump for the situation, writing on X:
“Thanks, @realDonaldTrump! Burbank Airport has ZERO air traffic controllers from 4:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. today because of YOUR government shutdown.”
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), which represents controllers nationwide, said the Burbank issue highlights the “fragile state” of the aviation system during the national staffing crisis.
“NATCA has repeatedly warned that the controller shortage leaves the system vulnerable,” the union said in a statement. “Today’s events show the urgent need to speed up training and hiring.”
NATCA noted that nearly 11,000 controllers are currently working unpaid, many enduring 10-hour shifts up to six days a week. The union said it is working with the FAA to minimize travel disruptions while continuing to push for increased hiring.
The FAA added that similar staffing-related delays were also affecting Newark Liberty, Denver International, and Las Vegas’ Harry Reid airports on Monday.
The incident comes on the sixth day of the government shutdown, which has furloughed hundreds of thousands of federal employees and disrupted multiple agency operations nationwide.