(MENAFN) The US government warned on Tuesday that parts of the nation’s airspace could be closed next week if the ongoing shutdown continues, as staffing shortages worsen across air traffic control centers.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cautioned that an extended shutdown could trigger “mass chaos,” including widespread flight delays and cancellations. “You will see mass flight delays.

You'll see mass cancelations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace, because we just cannot manage it because we don't have the air traffic controllers,” he said during a press briefing in Washington, DC.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), nearly half of all major air traffic control facilities are struggling with staff shortages, and about 13,000 controllers are currently working without pay. In the New York area, roughly 80% of employees reportedly called out of work on Friday.

Duffy had previously warned that employees who failed to show up could be dismissed, saying, “If you don't come to work, you don't get paid ... If we have some on our staff that aren't dedicated (to their work), we're going to let them go.” However, he later backtracked, telling a news agency that he would not fire any controllers, acknowledging, “They need support, they need money, they need a paycheck. They don't need to be fired.”

Now in its 34th day, the shutdown—triggered by stalled negotiations over federal spending priorities—is close to becoming the longest in US history. Thousands of federal workers remain unpaid, while essential services have been suspended or significantly reduced.

On Tuesday, the Senate once again rejected a House-backed Republican funding proposal, marking the 14th failed attempt to end the shutdown, as Democrats insist on restoring healthcare subsidies opposed by Republicans.

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