Looming federal shutdown would impact air traffic controllers amid ongoing staffing shortage WSOC TV [Video]

WASHINGTON — The busy holiday travel season may be over but now aviation officials are facing some new turbulence.

The federal government could run out of transportation funding in less than three weeks and that means there could be more disruptions.

Currently, there are almost 11,000 air traffic controllers nationwide. They guide pilots during takeoff and landing and manage planes coming into and out of the airspace.

But if the federal government runs of money on January 19, their jobs would be in a holding pattern.

“The idea that you would expect them to go do that stressful, demanding job to sit in those towers and in those centers, not getting paid with that added stress is unacceptable,” said Sec. Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Department of Transportation.

There’s also a shortage of these workers. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg wants to hire 1,800 new controllers this year alone. But he warns a shutdown …