AUSTIN, Texas — Senators were back on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to vote on whether to reopen the government, as the shutdown enters its 14th day. Without federal funding, several issues have occurred at airports across the country, including in Texas, because of staffing shortages due to federal employees not getting paid.
In North Texas, travelers have been fortunate, as Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport are still operating on a relatively normal routine.
But down in the capital city, the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport saw delays on Monday due to staffing issues. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground delay program starting around 4 p.m. until around 9 p.m.
During that time, flights from Austin were delayed an average of 40 minutes, with some arrivals being pushed back more than 90 minutes. That came amid the fourth busiest day in the airport’s history, as people traveled out of the city following the conclusion of the second and final weekend of the Austin City Limits Music Festival. According to a post on X, the airport saw 41,182 people screened through security.
MILESTONE MET! 🤩 Yesterday, TSA screened 41,182 people, topping the record charts for 4th busiest day ever, busiest ACL Fest travel day ever & our busiest day of 2025 so far.
THANK YOU to TSA, airlines, concessions & all our Austin Aviation & AUS teams across the airport. pic.twitter.com/kPrgazGhWW
— Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (@AustinAirport) October 14, 2025
The ground delay was issued by the FAA due to a shortage of air traffic controllers.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says getting these essential workers their pay back needs to be a priority.
“We want to make sure we have air travel, safe and controllers focused not on their mortgages, not on the next paycheck, not on food on the table, but actually on making sure you and your family are safe,” Duffy said.
If the Senate does not come to a decision Tuesday night, the next group of federal employees set to miss their paychecks are active-duty service members. That is set to happen on Wednesday. However, earlier this week, President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to make sure military members get paid.
Looking ahead, the same will follow for Senate and House staff later this month. Senate staff will begin missing their paychecks on Oct. 20 and then the House on Oct. 31.