Thousands of flights across the United States were canceled or delayed Monday as severe storms swept across much of the eastern part of the country. The disruption was compounded by an ongoing partial government shutdown, now in its second month, which has continued to strain airport security operations and staffing.
More than 4,400 flights scheduled to operate within, into, or out of the United States were canceled on Monday, while around 10,400 others were delayed, according to FlightAware. By early Tuesday, nearly 290 additional flights across the country had already been called off.
Among those caught in the disruption was Kelly Price, who was trying to return home to Colorado after a family vacation in Orlando, Florida. She said their Sunday night flight was only canceled early Monday.
“By that time the only place for us to sleep was the airport floor. So we’re all tired and frustrated,” Price told, adding that the earliest flight her family could rebook was not until Tuesday afternoon.
The disruptions are hitting at an already difficult moment for air travel. A partial government shutdown that began on February 14 has stretched staffing at some airport security checkpoints. At the same time, terminals are packed with spring break travelers and fans heading to the NCAA March Madness tournament, the annual men’s and women’s college basketball competitions.
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By Monday, delays and cancellations were mounting at some of the country’s busiest airports, including those in New York City, Chicago, and Atlanta. The National Weather Service warned that the storm system, after dumping heavy snow across the Midwest, was moving toward the East Coast with the potential to bring strong winds and even tornadoes.
The disruptions were widespread across major hubs. Around 570 flights were canceled at O’Hare International Airport, more than 430 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and over 270 at John F. Kennedy International Airport, according to FlightAware.
Earlier in the day, the Federal Aviation Administration imposed temporary ground stops at Atlanta’s main airport and Charlotte Douglas International Airport due to severe weather. Ground delays were also reported at JFK and Newark Liberty International Airport.
At the same time, major airline leaders warned that the situation could worsen. Executives from carriers including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and JetBlue urged the U.S. Congress to end the government shutdown, saying the lack of funding is straining airport operations and could lead to further delays for travelers.
The airlines have called for funding to be restored to the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Transportation Security Administration. The department has been without funding since February after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement. The Trump administration has blamed Democrats for the impasse, saying they refused to pass funding without changes to immigration policy.
“Once again, air travel is the political football amid another government shutdown,” the CEOs had written, according to the BBC.
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“First, leaders should immediately come together to reach an agreement to fund the Department of Homeland Security,” they added. “Then they need to act so this problem never happens again.”
In the letter, airline CEOs also called on Congress to pass legislation that would ensure air traffic controllers continue to be paid even during government funding lapses.
They said it is “difficult, if not impossible” for TSA workers to “put food on the table, put gas in the car and pay rent” without a paycheck.
TSA workers missed their first full paycheck on Friday but are still required to report to work because they are classified as essential employees. They are expected to receive back pay or compensation once the shutdown ends.
The strain on the system is becoming more visible. According to the Department of Homeland Security, more than 300 TSA employees had resigned as of Friday. At the same time, CBS News reported that call-out rates among staff have more than doubled since the funding lapse began.
The growing staffing shortage, combined with severe weather warnings and the surge in spring break travel, contributed to disruptions that began building over the weekend.