Bipartisan bill aims to pay air traffic controllers during future shutdowns

November 19, 2025 at 02:21 AM•2 min read•Josh Funk

Could future government shutdowns ground air travel? This bipartisan bill proposes a novel solution to keep air traffic controllers paid, but will it fly?

Key Points

1Bipartisan bill introduced to pay air traffic controllers during government shutdowns.
2Bill proposes using a flight insurance fund to cover salaries and operating expenses.
3Previous attempts to address this issue have failed to gain traction in Congress.
4Recent government shutdown caused significant flight delays due to controller absences.
5The flight insurance fund was created after 9/11 to provide airlines with insurance coverage.

A bipartisan bill introduced in the US House of Representatives aims to shield air traffic controllers from the financial impact of future government shutdowns. The proposed legislation seeks to ensure that air traffic controllers and other essential FAA personnel continue to receive paychecks during funding lapses, preventing disruptions to air travel. The bill suggests tapping into a flight insurance fund established after the September 11 attacks, which currently holds $2.6 billion. This approach is intended to be more financially palatable than alternatives that rely on the aviation trust fund.

The bill's sponsors, including key members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, emphasize the importance of maintaining aviation safety and minimizing disruptions to the traveling public. They argue that the current system, which requires controllers to work without pay during shutdowns, is unsustainable and can lead to increased absences and flight delays. The legislation would cut off the money if the insurance fund dips below $1 billion, but Transportation Committee staffers estimate that would still provide enough funding to keep FAA operating for four to six weeks.

Previous attempts to address this issue have failed to gain traction in Congress, despite bipartisan support. A similar proposal, the Aviation Funding Stability Act, has been repeatedly introduced but has yet to be enacted. The urgency of the situation was highlighted during the recent 43-day government shutdown, which resulted in significant flight delays and cancellations due to increased controller absences. The FAA was forced to order airlines to cut flights at 40 busy airports nationwide to alleviate pressure on the system.

The flight insurance fund that the bill proposes to use was originally created to provide airlines with insurance coverage after the 9/11 attacks. While the insurance program expired in 2014, the fund remains in place to cover claims related to government commandeering of aircraft. The fund has grown through interest accumulation and was last used after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The bill's fate remains uncertain, but it represents a renewed effort to address a critical vulnerability in the US aviation system.