BREAKING: The Trump Administration will likely close parts of America’s airspace starting next week if the government shutdown continues….see more

“So if, if you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos,” he said.

“You will see mass flight delays. You’ll see mass cancelations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace, because we just cannot manage it because we don’t have the air traffic controllers.”

Nearly 50% of all major air traffic control facilities face staffing shortages, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Air traffic controllers are required to work without pay for the duration of the shutdown.

About 13,000 air traffic controllers are currently working without pay, according to the FAA. On Friday, the agency said that 80% of New York area staff had called out. “These hard-working Americans have bills to pay, and they are being forced to make decisions and choices,” Duffy said Monday of air traffic controllers at an unrelated event in Philadelphia.

“Do they go to work as an air traffic controller, or do they have to find a different job to get resources, money, to put food on their table, to put gas in their car? And as every day goes by, I think the problem is only going to get worse, not better.”