MANY FAA STAFF REMAIN ACTIVE DURING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

 FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) Personnel Summary Staff at Work

Some essential services include air traffic control (including contract towers) as well as TSA and Customs operations. The collection of aviation taxes will also continue and the FAA’s aircraft registration activities will operate normally, however, activities including the issuance of airmen certificates and facility security inspections will stop. 

In addition to the shuttering of the Department of Transportation, other departments affected by the partial government shutdown include Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science, Homeland Security, Financial Services-General Government, Interior-Environment, and State. 

• Life and Safety excepted positions : (Air Traffic Organization – 23,856;
Office of Aviation Safety – 216;
Office of Security and Hazardous 24,208 Materials – 61; and Other – 75)
• Staff necessary to the discharge the President's constitutional duties and powers: 62
• Positions funded by multi-year appropriations, indefinite appropriations, or contract authority:  786 
Airport Improvement Program (AIP) – 566;
Research Engineering & Development – 218;
Aviation Insurance – 2
• Positions funded by franchise funds 1,511
• Positions supporting lawful continuation of other functions (e.g., support for Life and Safety positions): 571 Total Positions at Work 27,138


Summary of Suspended Activities
• Development of new air traffic control specialists not certified to work a position;
• Issuance of airmen certificates;
• Approval of exemptions for unmanned aerial systems operations;
• Aviation rulemaking;
• Random drug testing of the non-Controller workforce;
• Facility security inspections, evaluations, audits and inspections;
• Routine personnel security background investigations and PIV card services;
• Continuity of Operations Planning;
• Development, operational testing, and evaluation of NextGen technologies;
• Development of NextGen safety standards;
• Air traffic performance analysis;
• Capital planning for FAA facilities and equipment;
• Investment planning and financial analysis;
• Dispute resolution;
• Audit and evaluation;
• Financial operations, controls, reporting and accountability;
• Most budgeting functions (except those necessary to provide necessary services to support excepted functions);
• Law enforcement assistance support; 
• Most administrative support functions not required for support of life and safety “excepted” positions; and • Congressional liaison services.

Publication:  NATA -Department of Transportation December 2018