TEXAS — Friday marks 17 days and counting since the federal government shutdown, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are calling for the government to reopen. Leaders say the shutdown is now putting major stress on airports across Texas as workers go without pay. 

What You Need To Know

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, says hundreds of flights have been canceled and thousands more have been delayed during this shutdown

Cornyn said the Dallas Love Field Airport and the Houston airports have been at risk of ground stops due to staffing shortages. In Central Texas, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) did have a closure listed on the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) website Thursday morning

This comes as Austin expects to see nearly 35,000 passengers on Friday with the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix 2025 in town. U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, explained how the shutdown is putting more pressure on workers during an already busy time

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, says hundreds of flights have been canceled and thousands more have been delayed during this shutdown. He says some of the worst impacts have been right here in the Lone Star State.

Cornyn said the Dallas Love Field Airport and the Houston airports have been at risk of ground stops due to staffing shortages. In Central Texas, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) did have a closure listed on the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) website Thursday morning.

This comes as Austin expects to see nearly 35,000 passengers on Friday with the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix 2025 in town. U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, explained how the shutdown is putting more pressure on workers during an already busy time.

“With only 27 of the 60 controllers the FAA says our airport needs, Trump’s chaotic policies are making our situation in Austin worse,” Doggett said.

Air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents are listed as essential federal workers, and at the national level, they say it’s time to pay these employees before the situation gets out of hand. 

National Air Traffic Controllers’ Association President Nick Daniels is calling on leaders to act sooner rather than later. 

“Air traffic controllers are not responsible for starting this shutdown, and they aren’t responsible for ending the shutdown. Only our elected officials are. And our elected officials need to end the shutdown today,” Daniels said.

As senators leave Capitol Hill heading into the weekend, this shutdown is expected to last into next week. Both Dallas airports say operations are normal, but Dallas Love Field did have a ground stop last week ordered by the FAA. ABIA officials say they’re working closely with their federal partners to avoid any travel impact, but they report they’ve had a few ground stops issued.