Live updates: House expected to vote today on ending record government shutdown as flight cancellations continue

About 5,000 workers maintain FAA equipment, along with 14,000 air traffic controllers, all of whom work without pay.

In recent days, a record number of air traffic controllers have taken unscheduled leave, causing a cascading effect of hours-long delays for travelers. At the same time, the FAA has reduced flights at 40 U.S. airports, so that controllers who show up can manage traffic safely.

When Amanda James, who has been with the FAA for more than three years, heard about a funding deal this week, she said, “I’ll believe it every time I see it done.” » James and her husband, an FAA controller for more than 11 years, have endured shutdowns before and have been saving in case another one occurs.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Tuesday called the loss of wages for essential FAA employees a “crisis within aviation.”

Duffy said some controllers might call for protests, while others might take other jobs to support their families. Some simply get sick or burn out from the stress of not knowing when they will get paid.

Learn more about FAA workers without paychecks here.