CNN: The US needs more air traffic controllers. Graduating ATC students just got fast-tracked

[Dennis Donovan]

CNN - The US needs more air traffic controllers. These graduating students just got fast-tracked to enter the job market quicker

By
Sarah Dewberry
Updated May 12, 2025, 5:04 AM ET
PUBLISHED May 12, 2025, 5:00 AM ET

The United States aviation industry continues to grapple with the worst air traffic controller shortage in nearly 30 years as a recent spate of incidents has thrust the high-stress profession into the spotlight.

Recent college graduates looking to join the field will enter a chaotic landscape of antiquated and failing air traffic control technology – a decades-long issue the Department of Transportation announced last week it would address with a new system by 2028.

New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport has faced persistent air traffic control issues that have caused travel woes.

On Sunday, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a brief 45-minute ground stop after an equipment outage. This comes after controllers’ radar screens briefly went black for about 90 seconds on Friday.

These air traffic control communication issues have led to hundreds of flight delays lasting more than a week and prompted some controllers to take trauma leave, CNN previously reported.

/snip

[Scrivener7]

1. Didn't DOGE just lay off ATCs?

[k_buddy762]

2. Not exactly

They didn't directly lay off any ATC, however they did make a lot of cuts at the FAA, some of which are alleged to have an effect on aviation safety.

At least, this is my understanding from speaking with folks in the industry.

[surfered]

3. DOGE laid off 400 FAA workers. While none were ATCs, some were mechanics charged with keeping everything up and running

So, is air travel more efficient?