Payam Javan: Flight delays persisted across the United States on Sunday as the government shutdown entered its second month, straining airport operations nationwide. Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey was among the hardest hit, with passengers facing delays of two to three hours, according to reports from The Associated Press.

New York City’s Emergency Management office warned that disruptions at Newark frequently affect other regional airports, advising travelers to expect “schedule changes, gate holds, and missed connections.” Meanwhile, airports in Houston, Dallas, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, and Miami all reported dozens of delays and several cancellations, data from FlightAware showed. As of Sunday evening, more than 4,200 flights were delayed and over 550 were canceled nationwide, though not all due to air traffic controller shortages.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cautioned that prolonged shutdown conditions will lead to escalating flight disruptions. Speaking on CBS’s Face the Nation, Duffy stressed that safety remains the top priority, even if it means slowing air traffic and canceling flights. He also emphasized empathy toward unpaid controllers, saying he would not fire those missing work while struggling to provide for their families.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that nearly 13,000 controllers have been working without pay for weeks amid a preexisting staffing shortage of about 3,000 positions. Despite these challenges, aviation analytics firm Cirium noted that most major U.S. airports maintained relatively strong on-time performance through October. However, experts warn that continued shortages could erode that resilience if the shutdown persists.