Flying on Empty: How Shutdowns Threaten Air Safety, Travel, and the Economy

Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Moran Announces Subcommittee Hearing on November 19^th

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation's Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation will convene a hearing titled: "Flying on Empty: How Shutdowns Threaten Air Safety, Travel, and the Economy" on Wednesday, November 19^th at 2:30pm EST. This hearing will examine the toll Democrats' government shutdown took on the air traffic control system, airline operations, and training.

The hearing will also review how the Democrats' intransigence caused the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reduce air traffic at 40 "high-volume" airports by 10 percent. Given ongoing air traffic issues disrupting the efficiency of the national airspace -- including radar outages at Newark International Airport, the midair collision in Washington, D.C. in January, and staffing shortages impacting the controller workforce -- it is crucial to discuss how the Schumer shutdown worsened harm to an already strained workforce.

Upon announcing the hearing, Sen. Moran said:

"The government shutdown has severely impacted our already fragile aviation industry, and recovering from its effects will take time. Earlier this year, we witnessed the vulnerabilities of our air system - all of which have been exacerbated by this shutdown - when a series of failures led to the mid-air collision on January 29, claiming 67 lives. As a result of the longest shutdown in American history, it was necessary for FAA to decrease the number of flights at major airports across the country. As we work to reopen the government, it's critical that we address the damage done and look at the long-term effects of the shutdown. I look forward to discussing with industry how Congress can work to alleviate the strain on air traffic controllers and TSA agents, as well as ensure safety for passengers and sustainable operations for our airlines, general and business aviation stakeholders."

Sen. Cruz said:

"Almost a month ago, CNN quoted a senior Democratic aide as saying Senate Democrats wouldn't reopen the government short of 'planes falling out of the sky.' For 40 days, Senate Democrats seemed to want to put that theory to test. They forced Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford to reduce flights because the safety data the FAA relies on to keep the system safe was blinking red. Thousands of air traffic controllers and TSA agents worked for over a month without pay, working two jobs to make ends meet and facing eviction notices. Hundreds of thousands of Americans saw their flights disrupted or cancelled. We must assess the damage the Democrat shutdown has done and ensure we can safely restore aviation to American skies ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday."

Witnesses:

• Mr. Nick Daniels, President, National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA)
• Former Governor Chris Sununu, President and Chief Executive Officer, Airlines for America (A4A)
• Mr. Jim Viola, President and Chief Executive Officer, General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA)

An additional witnesses may be announced at a later date.

Hearing Details:

WHAT: Full Committee Hearing titled "Flying on Empty: How Shutdowns Threaten Air Safety, Travel, and the Economy "

DATE: Wednesday, November 19, 2025

TIME: 2:30 PM EST

LOCATION: Committee Hearing Room, Russell 253

LIVESTREAM: The hearing will stream live on the Committee web site and YouTube.

MEDIA INFO: Reporters wanting to attend the committee should contact their respective media gallery to RSVP.

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