Read, Watch or Listen

As the government shutdown stretches past five weeks, air traffic controllers across the United States are moonlighting to pay bills, hanging Christmas lights, stocking grocery freezers at dawn, and squeezing in DoorDash runs. Unpaid but still on duty, they describe exhaustion and anxiety, while their union warns that working second jobs “absolutely” makes the system less safe. Early-career staff are hit hardest, veterans say their savings are vanishing, and more may stop showing up. The administration plans to cut air traffic by 10 percent at 40 major airports starting Friday.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.