U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Friday announced a record-breaking surge in applications for air traffic controller positions, with over 8,004 candidates submitting their applications within just 13 hours of the recruitment campaign launching.

“In just 13 hours: 8,004 Americans applied to join our controller ranks — that’s over 10 applications every minute! Of those applicants, 7,252 are qualified. This is now the fastest application pace in American history for air traffic controllers,” Duffy said.

Duffy noted that the Federal Aviation Administration has been recruiting air traffic controllers since 1958 — a span of 67 years — and current interest levels have never been higher. Applications remain open through the campaign’s conclusion.

During remarks at the Semafor World Economy event in Washington, D.C., Duffy explained the rationale behind targeting gamers for the role: “If you think about what these gamers do on screens — they’re talking while managing multiple scenarios — that’s exactly what air traffic controllers do in a tower.”

The Transportation Department launched a targeted recruitment campaign for gaming communities after polling 250 graduates from its air traffic academy, where only three did not identify as gamers. Duffy emphasized the urgency of filling positions due to a long-standing shortage exacerbated by recent retirements.

In November, Duffy reported that daily retirements among air traffic controllers had tripled during a government shutdown that left federal workers without paychecks for over a month. He added: “This hiring surge will have long-lasting effects on air travel, well beyond when this administration reopens.”

The Department of Transportation’s 2027 budget proposal includes $481 million to support the recruitment and retention of air traffic controllers as part of an effort to “supercharge” staffing.

“You may think I’m crazy,” Duffy said. “But after polling 250 students at our academy, only three weren’t gamers. There’s a clear correlation between gaming and the desire to become air traffic controllers.”