Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a stark warning that continued U.S. government shutdowns could lead to “mass chaos” in air travel, citing critical staffing shortages at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Duffy stated that the Department of Transportation might shut down airspace in certain regions if the impasse persists beyond the coming week.

“Democrats, you will see mass flight delays, mass cancelations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace because we just cannot manage it without air traffic controllers,” Duffy said, according to ABC News. He emphasized that nearly 50% of major air traffic control facilities face staffing gaps, with controllers forced to work without pay during the shutdown.

Duffy highlighted the risks posed by understaffing, noting that controllers are “doing two jobs instead of one” under the current strain. On Sunday, a ground stop was in effect at Newark Liberty International Airport as he warned of safety concerns. “There is a level of risk injected into the system when we have a controller working without adequate support,” he added.

Flight data from Monday showed over 2,885 delays and 70 cancellations across U.S. airports, with major hubs like Chicago O’Hare, Newark Liberty, John F. Kennedy, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport bearing the brunt of the disruptions. Duffy called on lawmakers to end the shutdown, stating that air traffic controllers “cannot miss two paychecks” and face dire financial consequences if the situation continues.

“We will delay, we will cancel flights across the national airspace to ensure safety,” Duffy told ABC News’ Martha Raddatz, stressing the urgent need for resolution. He reiterated that the FAA is short between 2,000 and 3,000 controllers, warning of “very real” consequences for the nation’s air system if the crisis worsens.