US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

Causes and Political Blame

• Many commenters see the shutdown as “uniquely Trumpian,” noting its length, frequency, and the fact it occurs under unified Republican control. Others argue shutdowns are a recurring bipartisan failure rooted in Congressional dysfunction, not just the president.
• Debate centers on whether Trump is strategically driving events or is disengaged and cognitively diminished, with Congressional Republicans effectively deferring to him.
• Filibuster rules and ACA premium tax credits/SNAP funding are key flashpoints; some say Republicans must craft a 60‑vote bill, others say Democrats are weaponizing the budget after losing on ACA repeal at the ballot box.

Perceived Endgame and Democratic Risks

• Several see no coherent “endgame,” just improvisation, “owning the libs,” and a long‑term project to discredit government, shrink it, and open space for privatization.
• Others fear a more systemic authoritarian drift: deliberate attacks on elections, courts, checks and balances, and social safety nets, with the shutdown as a tool to create chaos and potential unrest.
• Counter‑voices say analogies to Rome or outright collapse are overblown; they frame this as an ugly but familiar budget standoff in a still‑stable democracy.

Filter Bubbles and Public Opinion

• Commenters highlight social‑media echo chambers: each side believes the public mostly blames the other, encouraging a “chicken” game where neither side compromises.
• Some argue both parties are in an existential fight over whether Republicans retain unilateral control versus Democrats retaining any leverage.

ATC Funding, Privatization, and Governance

• Strong thread on why ATC is vulnerable: it’s federally funded, subject to appropriations, and already understaffed since the Reagan PATCO firings.
• Pro‑privatization voices suggest user‑fee models, airport‑funded towers, or non‑profit models like Nav Canada to insulate ATC from shutdowns.
• Critics warn that market incentives and fragmented funding could erode safety, disadvantage rural areas, and turn a critical natural monopoly into an oligarch‑controlled chokepoint.
• Some see the crisis as engineered or at least convenient for pushing outsourcing and tech‑heavy “AI ATC” pitches from private actors.

Labor Conditions, Shortages, and Resignations

• Controllers face high stress, strict medical/age rules, and long training pipelines; many are already at or near retirement age with mandatory retirement at 56.
• With no pay and uncertain backpay timing, some retire early or quit despite good long‑term compensation, because they can’t float months without income.
• Commenters note existing ~3,000‑controller shortages and years‑long training, so even a modest spike in resignations can have long‑term systemic effects.

Operational and Social Impact

• A 10% cut in major‑airport traffic still means thousands of daily cancellations, cascading into missed work, lost income for crews, and supply‑chain impacts.
• Some propose targeting private jets or ICE funding first; others note technical and legal limits and that “essential” designations are ultimately political.
• Broader reflections liken US decline to a badly played strategy game: decades of underinvestment, polarization, and short‑termism eroding infrastructure, governance capacity, and global position.