Government Shutdown Impacts General Aviation: Over 11,000 FAA Workers Furloughed
The federal government shutdown commencing on October 1, 2025, has dealt a significant blow to general aviation operations. As per the Department of Transportation plans, 11,322 FAA employees have been furloughed.
This shutdown has disrupted critical aviation safety functions, including pilot checkrides, aircraft inspections, and air traffic control training programs.
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), along with 49 other aviation organizations, penned a letter to Congressional leadership, warning about the potential negative impacts of the shutdown. The organizations emphasized, “Shutdowns are extremely detrimental to the passengers and shippers as well as the aviation community because they force the FAA to suspend air traffic controller and technician hiring and training, delay the implementation of safety initiatives, and postpone maintenance and repair work to critical air traffic equipment.”
Out of the FAA’s total workforce of 44,829, approximately 25,668 employees are designated as safety-critical and continue to work without pay. Additionally, 3,113 are necessary by law, and 4,726 are funded through non-appropriated sources.
The shutdown has resulted in the suspension of pilot check rides, delays in airworthiness inspections, and deferred analysis of voluntary safety reporting systems.
The EAA has also backed the “Aviation Funding Stability Act” introduced in Congress. This act aims to shield the FAA from future government shutdowns by allowing essential programs to be funded through the Airport and Airway Trust Fund for up to 30 days.
The aviation community continues to advocate for stable funding to prevent disruptions to safety-critical operations.
Source: EAA