“If we have a continual small subset of controllers that don’t show up to work… they’re the problem children… We need more controllers, but we need the best and the brightest, the dedicated controllers, and if we have some on our staff that aren’t dedicated like we need, we’re going to let them go.” Source: A statement from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy as the government shutdown drags into the double digits, air traffic control facilities across the US are reporting growing staff shortages… Eleven major airspace sectors were short on controllers to close out October 9, including Chicago O’Hare, Newark, Boston Center, and Orlando.