RELEASE: Gottheimer Demands DOT and Trump Administration Immediately Add Air Traffic Controllers at Newark to Address Delays

Above: Gottheimer announces new action to address air traffic control shortage and severe delays at Newark Airport.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, May 6, 2025, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) demanded that the Trump Administration immediately deploy more air traffic controllers (ATCs) to cover Newark Liberty International Airport to help address the severe delays and cancellations that have been affecting families in Northern New Jersey this week. Gottheimer also called on the Administration and Congress to immediately provide emergency funding to upgrade the outdated infrastructure for air traffic control towers and to reduce staffing issues.

For nine straight days, Newark Airport has seen massive delays and cancellations due to a severe shortage of air traffic controllers and outdated technology. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy admitted that the system for managing air traffic at Newark is “incredibly old” and “frail,” relying on floppy disks and copper wires instead of more modern fiber wires. Last week, a copper wire fried in the outdated tower and wiped out all communications between controllers and planes for 90 seconds — causing five air traffic controllers to go on trauma leave, further worsening delays and cancellations.

The Newark sector is currently short an estimated 40 air traffic controllers who are responsible for Newark’s air traffic. Severe delays have prompted United Airlines’ CEO to tell customers to fly through other airports instead of Newark. 

The Northeast region of the United States, which includes Newark, generates 20% of the nation’s GDP. In 2024, nearly 146 million air passengers flew in and out of the New Jersey-New York metro area — a new record. 

A recording of the announcement can be found here.

“On a good day, air traffic controllers are under immense pressure to do a lot with the little they’re given. When the slightest error can be deadly, we must work together to help them save lives. I am demanding that the Trump Administration add more air traffic controllers to cover Newark Airport to immediately help reduce shortages — and pay all the workers accordingly. Overtime, bonuses, whatever it takes. We must keep our aviation workers on the job and reassure hardworking families that we are doing everything possible to prevent delays,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “I don’t want anyone going anywhere else. I want them to be able to go to Newark. Tell me what you need, so we can get it to you. The bottom line is that this isn’t a partisan issue — it’s a matter of public safety. It’s about fixing a system that needs fixing.” 

FAA Issues Causing Delays

• This past weekend, an estimated 225 flights through Newark Airport were canceled, and more than 950 flights were delayed, some for up to four hours. 
• Nationwide, FAA staffing is at its lowest point in nearly 30 years — with more than 90% of our nation’s air traffic control facilities operating below the FAA’s recommended staffing levels.
  • 73 facilities are missing a quarter of their workforce.  
  • Controllers are mandated to retire by age 56, and it can take up to four years to replace them.
• In February, the Trump Administration announced they were gutting the FAA and firing 400 workers — just adding to the staffing shortage.

Gottheimer’s new action include: 

• Gottheimer demanded that the Trump Administration add more air traffic controllers to cover Newark Airport to immediately help reduce shortages and delays, and to pay workers overtime or provide bonuses to make that possible.
• Gottheimer called on the Administration to immediately request emergency funding to upgrade the outdated infrastructure at air traffic control towers, which caused the communications failure last week.
• Gottheimer called for the FAA, working with the Port Authority (PANYNJ), to conduct a review of the technical wiring and infrastructure for air traffic control, especially the towers at Newark. 
• Gottheimer is asking the House Appropriations Committee to immediately meet any request from the Administration to provide emergency resources to help fix both the technology and staffing issues. 
• Gottheimer called on United Airlines, which handles approximately 58% of air traffic in and out of Newark, to get ahead of cancellations and flight changes, and to give customers more notice and complete flexibility on rebookings and refunds until this problem is solved. 

Gottheimer’s full remarks as prepared for delivery can be found here.

Good morning, and thank you for joining me. For nine straight days, Newark Airport has suffered severe flight delays caused by FAA staffing shortages. This past weekend, an estimated 225 flights through Newark Airport were canceled and more than 950 delayed, some for up to four hours — severely impacting Jersey families and causing a crisis for travelers and our hardworking airport employees. United Airlines is even telling people to go to other airports just to travel — it’s outrageous.

Our air traffic controllers are the best in the world and are doing everything they can, but have outdated resources. Even Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy admitted that the system for managing air traffic at Newark is “incredibly old,” relying on floppy disks and copper wires — instead of more modern fiber wires. 

On April 28th, one of these copper wires fried and wiped out all communications between controllers and planes for 90 seconds — causing five employees to go on trauma leave, further worsening delays and cancellations. Just imagine the stress, knowing all those lives are in your hands, as all radar and comms go out for a minute and a half. It’s unacceptable. And, modernizing this system can take up to four years, so this problem isn’t going away overnight either.

I’ve been on this issue for years, working with my colleague Representative Schuster. Not long ago, I visited Newark’s air traffic tower and saw first-hand air traffic controllers working grueling, around-the-clock shifts. Some even work without air conditioning, with exposed pipes and roofs ready to cave in. Also, controllers retire by age 56, and it can take up to four years to replace them, so we’re hemorrhaging experienced staff.

Nationwide, FAA staffing is at its lowest point in nearly 30 years — with more than 90 percent of our nation’s air traffic control facilities operating below the FAA’s recommended staffing levels. 73 facilities are missing a quarter of their workforce. Our region — where 20 percent of the nation’s GDP runs through — is short about 40 air traffic controllers. We must keep our aviation workers on the job and reassure hardworking families that we are doing everything possible to prevent the reported delays — and accidents — we continue to see. 

From January through April, the National Transportation Safety Board has investigated 250 aviation accidents, and there’s been at least 143 aviation-related deaths this year. In January, we lost 67 souls in a tragic crash over the Potomac River here in Washington, D.C. — the first major airline crash in 16 years. A few weeks ago, a sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson, killing all six passengers on board. 

While air travel remains the safest form of travel in the country — these incidents show firsthand why many Jersey families share my concerns about President Trump’s chaos impacting safety. 

Last year, nearly 146 million air passengers flew in and out of the New Jersey-New York metro area — a new record. Yet in February, the Trump Administration announced they were gutting the FAA and firing 400 workers — just adding to the staffing shortage.

So, I am pushing for new action to protect our air traffic controllers, fight delays, and ensure safety in our skies. First, I am demanding that the Trump administration add more air traffic controllers to cover Newark Airport to immediately help reduce shortages — and pay all the workers accordingly. Overtime, bonuses, whatever it takes. Delays at Newark don’t just hit Jersey families and our economy, they’re a gut punch to our entire country — causing more delays in other cities including Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, and Dallas. With everyone depending on Newark, we need to address delays before they get any worse. 

I am also calling on the Administration to immediately provide emergency funding to upgrade the outdated infrastructure, which caused the communications failure last week. On a good day, Air traffic controllers are under immense pressure to do a lot with the little they’re given. When the slightest error can be deadly, we must work together to help them save lives.

Second, I am calling for the FAA, working with the Port Authority, to conduct a review of the technical wiring and infrastructure for air traffic control — especially the towers at Newark. Tell me what you need, so we can get it to you.

I have also called the CEO of United Airlines to ask him what he needs to get Newark, one of the key economic arteries of New Jersey, moving at full capacity again. I don’t want anyone going anywhere else. I want them to be able to go to Newark. 

As for the delays, I am asking United to get better ahead of cancelations and flight changes, to give people more notice and complete flexibility on rebookings and refunds until this problem is solved. 

I’ve also asked the House Appropriations Committee to immediately put emergency resources into fixing both the technology and staffing issues. 

Earlier this year, I introduced my Don’t Cut FAA Workers Act, which prohibits major staff cuts at the FAA if a fatal crash has occurred in U.S. airspace within one year. Last Congress, I helped pass the FAA Reauthorization Act, requiring the FAA to deploy critical safety technology at airports across the country to help prevent “close calls” on and around our runways. 

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, which I helped craft and pass into law, includes 53 million dollars for Jersey’s airports, including more than 42 million for Newark, to help improve our infrastructure, upgrade our terminals, and enhance runway safety. And my ETA Act requires U.S. airlines to promptly issue cash or credit card refunds, not just vouchers, to passengers when their flights are cancelled or significantly changed.

The bottom line is that this isn’t a partisan issue — it’s a matter of public safety. 

As long as we work together to keep our skies and families safe, I know that here in the greatest country in the world, our best days will always be ahead of us. Thank you.

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