Air Traffic Controllers helped end the last government shutdown and may again

By Joel Rose

Published October 1, 2025 at 4:22 PM EDT

A shortage of air traffic controllers may have played a key role in ending the last government shutdown in 2019. Those controllers could be in a powerful position this year as well.

Joel Rose

Joel Rose is a correspondent on NPR's National Desk. He covers immigration and breaking news.

See stories by Joel Rose

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