FAA Plans to Hire Nearly 9,000 Air Traffic Controllers in Three Years

Following the 43 day government shutdown in the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it will accelerate air traffic controller hiring to address long standing staffing shortages. The agency has approved a new training pathway called the Enhanced AT-CTI program and aims to recruit around 9,000 new controllers by 2028. The program is currently offered at nine universities, allowing students to apply directly without attending the FAA Academy by completing an equivalent curriculum.

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history made the chronic staffing gaps in control towers more visible. Many controllers were required to work without pay, and as the shutdown dragged on, some were unable to report for duty. This led to flight delays, cancellations, and even a temporary reduction in commercial flight capacity by the FAA. Although operations have since normalized, the incident exposed how vulnerable the system can be.

The country is currently estimated to have a shortage of around 3,000 air traffic controllers. At many major airports, six day workweeks and mandatory overtime have become standard, with even a single absence capable of disrupting operations.