Congressman Carson Calls for House to Return to Pay Air Traffic Controllers

WASHINGTON, DC—As Congress enters the fourth week of a government shutdown, Congressman André Carson (IN-07) is calling on the House of Representatives to return to pass the Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2025. This bill – co-led by Congressman Carson and Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) – would ensure air traffic controllers are paid on time and protect other essential aviation safety functions. Congressman Carson serves as a senior member of the House Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation.

Air traffic controllers are essential workers, meaning they are required to work through a government shutdown without pay. Controllers have already received one reduced paycheck, and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy indicated on Monday that they should expect to miss a full paycheck next week.  

 

 “Air traffic controllers already perform one of the most stressful jobs in the transportation industry, and not knowing when your next paycheck is coming adds significantly to this stress,” Congressman Carson said. "Their job requires managing the traffic of multiple passenger and cargo aircraft simultaneously, which is physically and mentally stressful. We have an obligation not only to these hardworking civil servants, but also to the flying public to ensure air traffic controllers are paid on time. The safety of our skies is just too important.

 

“I’m urging Speaker Johnson to call the House back to session so we can pass my bill. This is a commonsense measure that both parties should support. The Speaker has thus far refused to work on compromise legislation with Democrats or allowed the House to cast a single vote on any legislation since September 19. This abdication of our Constitutional responsibilities is shameful, and it must end so we can reopen the government, pay all federal employees, and keep our skies safe.”

 

The Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2025 would allow the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to continue operating, including ensuring employees work with pay, by drawing from its Airports and Airways Trust Fund during any lapse in typical government appropriations. The previous temporary budget agreement ended on September 30.

 

The House’s Republican majority failed to pass the 12 mandatory annual appropriations bills by the start of the new federal fiscal year, FY26, by October 1, leading to a government shutdown.