A United Airlines Boeing 737 airplane departs from Los Angeles International Airport en route to Denver with the air traffic control tower in the background on Oct. 17, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
As of Sunday, there are now enough Senate Democrats willing to back a revamped plan to reopen the government. But if the shutdown doesn't end, air travel disruptions are at risk.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ISSUE DESPERATE PLEA AS FAMILIES STRUGGLE WITHOUT PAYCHECKS
"I don't think we would expect, if the shutdown continues, for staffing levels to improve over what they are right now," Scribner said. "If anything, they will continue to deteriorate as controllers call out sick or perhaps even resign. So I would expect it would not get better as long as the shutdown continues."
Scribner said that travelers shouldn’t be concerned that the reduction in flights would translate to a lapse in safety, but said they should be aware that their travel schedules will likely take a hit as a result.
"They're not going to allow unsafe flights. So whatever that means in terms of staffing capability and workflow, they are going to reduce the flights in order to maintain that very high level of safety that's demanded of that," Scribner said. "Travelers shouldn't be concerned about safety in this, but they should be concerned about their travel schedules, which are likely to be impacted."
Richard Stern, director of the Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget at conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, also said he expects this reduction to continue until the shutdown ends.
"Unfortunately, I think it's going to have to continue until the shutdown ends, because they're running through resources that they don't have until this funding again," Stern told Fox News Digital Thursday.
Stern said the government has been entering into uncharted territory now with what minimum services the government is required to provide, despite the fact that funding has expired.
"No one really knows exactly what the next steps are after this," Stern said.
WITH THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN THREATENING AIR TRAVEL, A GOP BILL SEEKS TO KEEP FLIGHTS RUNNING
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaks alongside Rep. Tom Emmer and House Speaker Mike Johnson during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on October 23. (Eric Lee/Getty Images)
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Diana Stancy is a politics reporter with Fox News Digital covering the White House.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/flight-reductions-likely-continue-worsen-shutdown-persists-experts-warn