Shutdown Update: NATCA Leadership and Members Make Numerous Media Appearances Demanding End to the Government Shutdown

NATCA leadership, including President Nick Daniels, Executive Vice President Mick Devine, Regional Vice Presidents, and FacReps made numerous media appearances over the past week, all echoing the same message: End the Government Shutdown Now!

Most of the media appearances occurred on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025 when NATCA members spanned more than 20 airports across the country, handing out leaflets to the flying public, alerting them about the government shutdown and its consequences. 

The leafleting coincided with the same day air traffic controllers across the country received a zero dollar paycheck for work they have already accomplished, “there is no excuse that these hard-working men and women are showing up to do this job and to not ever know when they are going to get paid again,” said Daniels during an appearance on CNN. 

Over the past week, NATCA spokespeople have appeared on CNN, NewsNation, FoxNews, MSNBC, NBC National News, ABC National News, and have been interviewed by a number of television stations local to Washington, D.C. Daniels also penned an op-ed for The Hill and was interviewed by a number of print and online publications such as The New York Times, Reuters, and Politico.

Please click on the following links to view some of these national interviews and articles:

CNN’s Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer on Oct. 28Fox and Friends on Oct. 28NewsNation with Collen McShane on Oct. 28CBS News on Oct. 28NBC’s The Today Show on Oct. 28CNBC: ‘The problems are mounting daily:’ Air traffic controllers miss first paychecks in government shutdownAssociated Press: Isolated flight delays may spread as air traffic controllers go without pay during shutdownReuters: Hundreds of air traffic controllers take second jobs as US shutdown continuesPolitico: Controllers union stops short of echoing AFGE in shutdown pleaTravel Weekly: At U.S. airports, air traffic controllers call for shutdown’s endThe Independent (UK): Air traffic controllers take second jobs after missing first paycheckFlight Global: Aviation groups urge Democrats to back Republican funding bill amid warnings about flight safetyNYT: Shutdown Makes Air Travel System ‘Less Safe,’ Air Traffic Controllers SayUSA Today: Air traffic controllers working unpaid as flight delays growNPR: Hurricane Melissa leaves Jamaica devastated. And, the shutdown’s impact on airportsTMZ: Air Traffic Controllers Ask Government Officials To ‘Do Their Job’ Amid ShutdownThe Guardian: Air traffic controllers receive $0 paychecks as government shutdown stretchesABC News: Flight delays become more common as air traffic controllers go without pay during shutdownNBC News: Federal employees manning the skies miss first paycheck amid government shutdownCBS News: Airlines are feeding air traffic controllers as they miss their first full paycheckAxios: Flight delays soar as controllers miss first paycheck TuesdayFortune: More flight disruptions are hitting airports across the country due to a shortage of air traffic controllers, who aren’t getting paid

Regional Vice Presidents and FacReps were also very busy with media appearances over the last week. Both were extremely visible during the leaflet campaign on Tuesday, relaying the stories of local air traffic controllers in the markets where they live and work.

Below are links to examples of the regional news reports:

Eastern Region	NBC Washington (WRC) in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 28 ABC7 (WABC) in New York on Oct. 28 WCBS in New York on Oct. 28 Action News 6 (WPVI) in Philadelphia on Oct. 28 CBS News (KYW) in Philadelphia on Oct. 28
Central Region	CBS News (KCTV-5) in Kansas City, Mo. on Oct. 28 Fox4KC in Kansas City, Mo. on Oct. 28
Great Lakes Region	WKYC in Cleveland on Oct. 28 19 News (WOIO) in Cleveland on Oct. 28 CBS Detroit on Oct. 28 Fox 9 Minneapolis (KMSP) in Minneapolis on Oct. 28
New England Region	ABC News (WCVB) in Boston on Oct. 28 CBS News (WBZ) in Boston on Oct. 28 Fox 25 in Boston on Oct. 28
Southern Region	CNN with anchor Kate Bolduan on Oct. 27 Fox 5 in Atlanta on Oct. 28 Tampa Bay 10 (WTSP) in Tampa, Fla. on Oct. 28 News 6 in Orlando, Fla. on Oct. 28 Spectrum News in Charlotte, N.C. on Oct. 28
Northwest Mountain Region	Fox 31 (KDVR) in Denver on Oct. 28 ABC News (KOMO) in Seattle on Oct. 28 NBC News (KSL) in Salt Lake City on Oct. 28
Western Pacific Region	Fox 11 in Los Angeles on Oct. 28 KNX News 97.1 FM in Los Angeles on Oct. 28

Additional Media Coverage

• Passengers Show Appreciation to ATCs During Shutdown
• Passengers Praise ATC Dedication During Government Shutdown 
• Compilation Video of Oct. 28 Leaflet Coverage

During all of these media engagements, the message has been simple – the shutdown must end immediately. NATCA spokespeople will continue to discuss the vital work that air traffic controllers do on a daily basis and the real hardship the government shutdown is placing on ATCs, both professionally and personally.