RELEASE: Gottheimer Sends Letter Demanding Trump Administration Immediately Take Action, Add Air Traffic Controllers to Address Delays at Newark Airport

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, May 7, 2025, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) sent a letter to President Donald Trump and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy demanding they immediately deploy more air traffic controllers (ATCs) to address the staffing shortage causing massive delays and cancellations at Newark Liberty International Airport. Gottheimer also urged the Administration to immediately request emergency funding to upgrade the outdated infrastructure and technology at Newark.

Find the letter here and further below.

This follows Gottheimer’s announcement yesterday, calling on the Trump Administration to take action and request emergency funding, for the FAA to work with the Port Authority (PANYNJ), to conduct a review of the Newark air traffic control towers, for the House Appropriations Committee to meet any request for emergency resources, and for airlines to get ahead of cancellations and flight changes. 

The Newark sector, which includes Newark, Teterboro, Essex County, Morristown, and several smaller airports, is currently short around 40 air traffic controllers. In the past week, customers have experienced more than 900 flight cancellations since outdated technology caused a radar and communications outage last week. The technology responsible for the Newark sector is approximately 35 years old. 

“The Administration must take immediate action by moving air traffic control supervisors to temporarily cover the Newark sector to help combat the staffing shortages and to help stop flight delays and cancellations. This will help provide some immediate relief to customers who have experienced more than 900 flight cancellations since the outage last week. I also urge the Administration to request emergency funding to upgrade the outdated infrastructure for air traffic control towers, which caused the communications failure last week. Newark Airport, for example, operates technology that is approximately 35 years old. It is unacceptable that the FAA has failed to invest in these critical technological upgrades for so many years,” wrote Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) in a letter today to President Trump and Transportation Secretary Duffy.

Full text of the letter sent to President Trump and Secretary Duffy can be found here and below:

Dear President Trump and Secretary Duffy: 

I am writing to express my deep concern with the severe flight cancelations and delays at Newark Liberty International Airport, driven by the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) staffing shortages and decades-old technology. Last weekend, an estimated 225 flights through Newark Airport were canceled and more than 950 delayed. As a result, United Airlines was forced to cancel 35 roundtrip flights out of Newark Airport which impacts the traveling public as well as revenue to New Jersey, my District, and the entire region. These ongoing delays and cancellations have raised serious concerns that demand answers and action.  

On April 28, 2025, due to a fried copper wire, air traffic controllers (ATCs) responsible for the Newark Airport temporarily lost radar and communications with aircraft under their control and were unable to see, hear, or talk to them. At that time, about 15 to 20 flights were being controlled by Newark Airport controllers when communications and radar went down, This traumatic event led to five ATCs to take a 45-day administrative leave. Their leave only further exacerbated the shortage of ATCs across the country and led to massive flight delays and cancellations at Newark Airport.

Staffing and infrastructure issues are not new for air traffic controllers. 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. In fact, nationwide, 73 facilities are missing a quarter of their workforce. The Newark sector, which includes Newark, Teterboro, Essex County, and Morristown airports, is currently short around 40 air traffic controllers. 

The Administration must take immediate action by moving air traffic control supervisors to temporarily cover the Newark sector to help combat the staffing shortages and to help stop flight delays and cancellations. This will help provide some immediate relief to customers who have experienced more than 900 flight cancellations since the outage last week. I also urge the Administration to request emergency funding to upgrade the outdated infrastructure for air traffic control towers, which caused the communications failure last week. Newark Airport, for example, operates technology that is approximately 35 years old. It is unacceptable that the FAA has failed to invest in these critical technological upgrades for so many years. 

Air traffic controllers are under immense pressure. When the slightest error can be deadly, we must ensure that air traffic controllers have all the tools they need to keep our skies safe. I look forward to hearing from you on this urgent matter. 

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