Contact: Dan Hubbard, 202-431-5970, [email protected]

Washington, DC, Sept. 29, 2025 - The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today joined in an urgent letter to leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate calling for compromise to avoid a looming shutdown of the federal government that, among many detrimental consequences, would adversely impact the aviation sector, an essential American industry.

Unless an agreement is reached on a short-term funding extension, many government agencies and operations would halt operations at midnight on Wednesday, Oct. 1.

"Government shutdowns harm the U.S. economy and degrade the redundancies and margins of safety that our National Airspace System (NAS) is built upon," read the letter sent to House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson (R-4-LA) and Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-8-NY), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and signed by NBAA and 49 other aviation stakeholders, unions and trade groups.

"Earlier this year, our community established the Modern Skies Coalition to wholeheartedly endorse Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy's plans to 'supercharge' air traffic controller (ATC) hiring at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and modernize the air traffic control system," the letter continued. "A government shutdown at this stage would jeopardize the important progress that we all have made on these efforts thus far."

A shutdown would also lead to the furlough of many FAA employees and suspension of air traffic controller and technician hiring and training, necessary system upgrades and maintenance of critical ATC equipment and infrastructure, the groups added.

"Furthermore, shutdowns are both costly and harmful to our economy," the letter said. "The aviation industry in the U.S. contributes more than 5% to the gross domestic product, accounting for $1.37 trillion in 2023, while also helping to drive more than 10 million American jobs. Government shutdowns severely hinder this economic activity.

"Congress must work quickly to avoid another harmful shutdown," the groups concluded. "The FAA, its dedicated frontline workforce, our aviation community, our economy and the American public cannot afford a disruption, regardless of how long it lasts."

Read the full letter.

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Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The association represents more than 10,000 company and professional members and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the world's largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at nbaa.org.

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