Airports across the nation continue to grapple with delays and reduced operations as the federal government shutdown stretches into its second month. Since October 1, when Congress failed to pass a budget amid disputes over Medicaid funding and expired Affordable Care Act subsidies, essential workers like air traffic controllers have gone without paychecks.

This has triggered widespread absences, forcing the Federal Aviation Administration to slash flights at major hubs and issue ground stops at places like Orlando and Los Angeles. Airlines report millions in losses, with over 3.2 million passengers affected so far.

A former air traffic controller, Michael Pearson, points to deeper systemic failures that predate the current impasse.

“The mess that Secretary Duffy was left with, unfortunately, he’s in a situation where he is relying on people in the FAA – the very same people who created the messes over the last 30 years, actually, a failed NextGen program, billions of dollars spent, and have wasted and pilfered money,” Pearson said during an appearance on Fox Business’s “The Bottom Line.”

Pearson’s critique traces the shortage—now exceeding 3,000 controllers—back to policy shifts under the Obama administration between 2011 and 2014. Those changes altered hiring to emphasize diversity initiatives, sidelining graduates from established training programs like the Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative. A class-action lawsuit, Brigida v. Department of Transportation, alleges these practices discriminated against qualified applicants, contributing to training bottlenecks and high washout rates that have plagued the agency ever since.

The Biden years only compounded the issue, with ongoing recruitment efforts that included targeted disabilities in job postings, even as vacancies mounted. Government Accountability Office audits have documented fatigue among overworked controllers, who often pull mandatory overtime and six-day weeks, raising risks of errors. The National Transportation Safety Board has linked such strain to recent near-misses, including a fatal midair collision over the Potomac in January that killed 67 people.

Under President Trump, steps have been taken to refocus on merit. An executive order issued shortly after his January 20 inauguration directed the FAA to scrap diversity-based hiring in favor of competence and achievement. Yet entrenched bureaucrats within the agency may slow real change, as Pearson warns: insiders beholden to old ways could resist reforms needed to modernize equipment and boost staffing.

With the shutdown showing no quick end—Democrats in Congress demanding reversals to health care cuts while Republicans hold firm—the strain on controllers grows. Reports from outlets like CNN and The New York Times detail surges in sick calls, with 98 staffing triggers over a single weekend in early November. Facilities in cities like Austin, Newark, and Denver have operated short-handed, rerouting flights to maintain safety margins.

Restoring full operations will require more than ending the shutdown. As Pearson suggests, bringing in external experts untainted by decades of FAA inertia could finally address the waste and inefficiency that have left America’s skies vulnerable. Until then, travelers face ongoing disruptions, a stark reminder of how policy missteps echo for years.

Why the National Debt Is the Looming Threat to Your Retirement Plans

The Hidden Crisis No One Is Talking About

Every day, headlines warn about inflation, market volatility, and global instability—but the greatest looming threat to your retirement might be something far more fundamental: America’s skyrocketing national debt.

You can learn more about how the national debt affects you by reading this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“.

With debt growing faster than most Americans can possibly fathom, the government’s borrowing habits have reached historic—and dangerous—levels. To cover spending, Washington is making moves with their budget packages, tariffs, and taxes. Is it enough? No. It’s not even close to what would be necessary to stop out-of-control debt, let alone reverse it.

How Debt Erodes Your Nest Egg

There are only so many levers government and the Federal Reserve can pull to try to protect Americans, assuming that’s even a top priority for them. Unfortunately, pulling one level to relive one pressure invariably adds pressure from another direction. This is why prices keep going up even as inflation reportedly slows.

For retirees and pre-retirees, that’s a perfect storm. The dollars you’ve worked hard to save lose value, and your cost of living increases while your investments lag behind.

If you’re relying solely on paper-based assets—stocks, bonds, or mutual funds—you’re essentially tied to the same system that’s creating the problem. It’s a system that was designed to work well in the 20th century, not in today’s world with people living longer and the dollar rapidly losing value.

This is why the 3-minute report, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now,” is so important.

The Precious Metals Hedge

Thousands of Americans are looking for a tangible, time-tested hedge: physical gold and silver.

Unlike paper assets, precious metals aren’t dependent on government policy or the stock market’s mood swings. They’re real, finite resources that have maintained value for thousands of years through wars, recessions, and inflationary periods.

In fact, during times of high inflation and fiscal instability, gold often performs its best—because it’s seen as a store of value when faith in the dollar weakens. This is why prices have skyrocketed this year and are expected by many economists to continue going up in the future.

Take Control with a Gold IRA

One of the most effective ways to protect your retirement from national debt fallout is through a self-directed Gold IRA. This IRS-approved account lets you hold physical gold and silver within your retirement portfolio, giving you:

Direct ownership of your assets

A hedge against inflation and dollar decline

The control to diversify beyond Wall Street

Augusta Precious Metals specializes in helping Americans just like you take this step with confidence. The company has earned a strong reputation for transparency, education, and personalized service—making it one of the most trusted names in the industry.

The Next Step: Secure Your Financial Future

Augusta Precious Metals has helped thousands of Americans with at least $50,000 to invest from their IRAs, 401(K)s, TSPs, and other retirement accounts safeguard their savings through precious metals.

If you’re concerned about what the rising national debt could mean for your future, now is the time to act.

Read this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“ and learn the simple steps you can take to protect your retirement.