The source provides an extensive analysis of the impact of a protracted government shutdown on United States aviation safety and operations, detailing how the funding lapse has led to significant system strain. It explains that while essential personnel, such as air traffic controllers and TSA agents, are mandated to work without pay, this has caused spike in absenteeism, low morale, and massive flight delays, with one peak day showing a 44% delay rate. The episode presents a debate between officials who insist that flying remains safe due to proactive flow controls and system redundancies and union leaders who warn that fatigue and distraction among unpaid workers create incremental risks. Ultimately, the analysis concludes that while the system is safe because safety standards have not been compromised, travelers should expect significant inconvenience and operational fragility until the shutdown ends.