(The Center Square)–More than 1,400 flights within, into or out of the U.S. were cancelled Sunday and more than 3,300 were delayed as staffing levels at airports worsen in the second month of the federal government shutdown.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said air travel will only worsen as the shutdown drags on and as air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration workers go unpaid for a sixth consecutive week. In an interview Sunday morning with CNN, Duffy said air traffic could slow “to a trickle” as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.

“It’s only going to get worse,” Duffy said. “I look to the two weeks before Thanksgiving, you’re going to see air travel be reduced to a trickle.”

Duffy ordered the largest U.S. airports to begin reducing flights last week as the industry strains for lower staffing levels. The reductions in flights are to reach 10% by Nov. 14 but could increase to 15% or 20% of all flights as the holiday approaches.

According to flightaware.com, 1,846 flights were cancelled and an additional 3,347 were delayed Sunday as of noon eastern.

At Newark Liberty International, 19% of flights were cancelled and 28% were delayed, according to Flight Aware; at New York’s LaGuardia, 6% were cancelled and 16% were delayed; at Chicago O’Hare, 4% were cancelled and 17% delayed; at Detroit Metro Wayne, 7% were cancelled and 27% were delayed; at San Diego International, 6% were cancelled and 28% delayed.

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.