WASHINGTON: The operational integrity of the US air traffic system has been severely compromised, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as essential air traffic controllers, who are working without pay, report ‘immense stress and fatigue,’ triggering a sharp rise in critical staffing absences.

The shutdown, which hits its record-tying 35th day on Tuesday, has seen controller absences surge, reaching 80 percent in the New York area and impacting half of the FAA’s ‘Core 30′ major facilities.

This labor crisis directly affects the nearly 13,000 controllers nationwide.

To ensure safety, the FAA has been compelled to reduce air traffic flow, resulting in over 16,700 flight delays and 2,282 cancellations between Friday and Sunday.

Disruptions continued into Monday, adding 4,000 delays and 600 cancellations across major hubs.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy defended the workforce, stating he would not penalize the 730,000 federal employees working without pay for prioritizing their families’ needs.