The federal workers responsible for keeping air travelers safe are in a precarious position nearly a month into the government shutdown. 
Air traffic controllers missed their first full paychecks on Oct. 28. Transportation Security Administration officers missed their first full paychecks on Oct. 24.  
“Is it safe to fly?” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy asked at a news conference at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. “Yes, it’s as safe today as it was two months ago.””
However, having to work unpaid comes at a cost to both essential workers and travelers. Here’s what air travelers should know before their next flight.
“Day in and day out, air traffic controllers have to have 100% of focus, 100% of the time,” National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Nick Daniels said at the news conference. Nevertheless, as the shutdown drags on, he noted, “America’s air traffic controllers are now having to focus on how do they put gas in the car? How do they take care of their children? How do they pay for childcare?”
“The pressure is real,” added air traffic controller Joe Segretto. “We have people trying to keep these airplanes safe, we have trainees that are trying to learn a new job that is very fast-paced, very stressful, very complex, now having to worry about how they’re going to pay bills.”
Some are calling out, looking for outside work.
“You’ve heard the stories of controllers working at an Uber or a DoorDash, a controller who might go to a food bank to help make ends meet,” Duffy said. He added that many air traffic controllers, particularly those further along in their careers, may be able to get by without one paycheck, but most will not be able to make it without two. 
A TSA spokesperson told USA TODAY so far, the vast majority of its nationwide operations have been minimally impacted by the shutdown, but “The longer the shutdown goes on, the more severe the impact on our TSA workforce who have expenses they must pay for, making it harder to show up for work when not being paid.”
Both TSA and the Department of Transportation affirm safety remains their top priority, despite the lapse in funding. 
TSA security screenings may take longer, and lines may back up if there is not enough staffing. 
For air traffic control, Duffy said, “If they don’t have the right staffing levels or if there’s distractions in towers, they will slow down the landings and departures in different airports across the country. And what that means for the American people is that means more delays or that means more cancellations.”
He noted that 24% of flight delays on Oct. 27 and 44% of delays on Oct. 26 were due to staffing triggers or shortages among air traffic controllers, compared to this year’s average of 5%.  
“They want you to be safe. And so if we have issues, we will slow it down,” he said. “We will stop it.”
Travelers should check their flight status before heading to the airport, pack appropriately to avoid unnecessary headaches, arrive extra early in case of long security lines and follow TSA officers’ instructions.  
“We kindly ask for the public’s patience and understanding as our officers are forced to work unpaid at this time,” TSA said. “Despite this challenge, TSA will remain vigilant and focused on performing our vital security mission on behalf of the American people.”
That patience is also key if flights end up being delayed or canceled.
“We want you to travel on time. We want your flight to depart when scheduled and land when scheduled. We want that to happen. But the number one priority of the men and women who are with me here … also the women in the towers, is they want you to be safe,” Duffy said.  
Travelers whose flights are delayed or canceled may be eligible for compensation or refunds, depending on the nature of the disruption. For details, visit the Department of Transportation’s Airline Customer Service Dashboard.
(This story was updated to add new multimedia assets.)

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