Michael Pearson, a former air traffic controller, claims a ‘social engineering’ experiment from the Obama administration crippled the FAA’s training process, resulting in staff shortages and future travel issues for Americans.
Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) emergency flight reduction order will officially be rescinded Monday morning, allowing normal operations to start up again across the country, according to authorities.
The order is set to be removed at 6 a.m. ET Monday after the FAA’s safety team made recommendations. The decision was made after safety assessments and improvements regarding the number of air traffic control employees around the country, based on a Sunday statement from the FAA.
“I would like to give thanks to the FAA’s hardworking safety team for maintaining the safety of our skies during the longest government shutdown ever and to the American people for their patience in prioritizing safety,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement. “With President Trump’s leadership, controllers have returned to their jobs and normal procedures can be reinstated.”
FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS REDUCED AT 40 MAJOR US AIRPORTS AS GOVERNMENT REOPENS, STAFFING IMPROVES
A photo of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy taken on Nov. 5, 2025. (Fox News / Fox News)
Duffy included, “We can now turn our attention back to quickly hiring controllers and developing the cutting-edge air traffic control system the American public deserves.”
According to the announcement, staffing levels have generally returned to normal ever since the government shutdown concluded.
There were six staffing triggers Friday, eight Saturday, and just one Sunday — numbers the FAA noted were consistent with conditions before the shutdown.
To compare, 81 triggers were documented on Nov. 8.
AVIATION EXPERT PREDICTS SHUTDOWN TURMOIL COULD CONTINUE: LEARN HOW TO PLAN FOR EASY TRAVEL THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
The air traffic control tower at LaGuardia Airport in the Queens area of New York City, U.S., on October 28, 2025. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters / Reuters)
The rescinded order will also remove certain limitations on general aviation operations at 12 airports, visual flight rule approaches at facilities facing staffing triggers, commercial space launches and reentries, parachute operations and photo missions, per the announcement.
“The decision today to rescind the order is a result of the consistent improvement in staffing issues across the NAS and will allow us to get back to normal operations,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in a statement. “I am thankful for all the hard work from the FAA safety and operations teams and their dedication to public safety for travelers.”
AIRLINES ARE PROJECTED TO ‘LOSE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS’ DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN’S EFFECTS ON FLIGHTS, DUFFY PREDICTS
A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employee checks a traveler’s documents at Hollywood Burbank Airport on Oct. 1, 2025, the first day of the partial U.S. government shutdown in Burbank, California. (Daniel Cole/Reuters / Reuters)
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Duffy and Bedford said Friday that the flight reductions needed at 40 U.S. airports would be reduced from 6% to 3% because the government reopened after the record-long shutdown.
Following a recommendation by the FAA safety and operations team, the change took effect Saturday at 6 a.m.
FOX Business has not yet received a response to a request for comment from the FAA.
Alexandra Koch of FOX Business contributed to this report.
