by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 8:45 AM ET, Sat October 18, 2025
As of October 14, air traffic controllers throughout the United States will not receive another paycheck until the government shutdown ends—and in concern and admiration for the work they do, one pilot’s union is stepping up to provide free lunches for them.
Nick Daniels, the president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, told Business Insider that airline pilots, flight attendants and even Canadian air traffic controllers have begun buying free food for air traffic controllers.
The Air Line Pilots Association, a union representing over 80,000 pilots, recently delivered pizzas to air traffic control in Washington, D.C, telling the news site that it sends pizzas to ATCs “almost daily.”
And it’s not just in Washington, D.C.: earlier this week, Alaska Airlines pilots sent pizza to the ATC tower at San Francisco International Airport, and Delta Air Lines pilots sent food to every tower at their hubs.
The Association of Flight Attendants is also taking part, with Teamsters Local 357 in Indianapolis delivering food to ATC there.
Union representative and DC-based air traffic controller Pete LeFevre told Business Insider: “We have received deliveries on multiple occasions," LeFevre said. "Here we have airline pilots, flight attendants, and companies that are all rallying around their air traffic controllers. Now we just need the government to rally around us, too."
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent pizza to air traffic controllers at Newark Liberty International Airport earlier this month.
Yet the free food, while appreciated, doesn’t go far in providing for other short-term issues, like rent, mortgage payments, childcare and other monthly necessities.
"The babysitter doesn't take an IOU," said LeFevre. “We're all going to be faced with tough decisions. On my one day off, am I going to go and drive for Uber, Uber Eats, Instacart, so I can make my payments?"
Burnout is also a real issue: most air traffic controllers work ten-hour shifts, six days a week—and now, without pay. Air traffic controllers, who face a 3,500-person worker deficit, are currently working up to 20 hours in overtime every week.
NATCA representatives have begun sharing leaflets encouraging an end to the government shutdown outside of airports.
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