Oliver Mercer
What Employers Should Do About I-9/E-Verify Delays During Shutdown
E‑Verify was offline during the October 2025 shutdown but I‑9 rules still applied. Employers must submit delayed E‑Verify…
TSA Staffing Impact: How Many Called Out Sick During the 43-Day Shutdown?
During the 43-day 2025 shutdown, unpaid TSA agents increasingly called out, causing three-hour security lines, flight delays, and…
Will Long-Term ATC Staffing Persist After the 2025 Shutdown?
The 2025 shutdown amplified an existing 3,800-controller shortfall, spurring 15–20 daily retirements and halting academy classes. The FAA…
ATC Fatigue and Thanksgiving Travel in 2025: What to Expect
Unpaid since October 1, 2025, air traffic controllers face severe fatigue and early retirements. FAA cuts at 40…
What to Expect at Airport Security After the November 2025 Shutdown
Post-shutdown TSA staffing strains have cut checkpoint capacity, creating 30–75 minute delays at IAH and similar waits nationwide.…
How Airlines Rebalance Crew Scheduling and Equipment Post-Shutdown
On November 7, 2025, the FAA imposed a 10% schedule cut at 40 major airports due to ATC…
When Will E-Verify Be Fully Restored After November 12, 2025 Shutdown?
E-Verify stayed offline after the November 12, 2025 government reopening with no confirmed restart date. Employers should retain…
How Long Will Embassy Visa Backlogs Clear After November 2025 Shutdown
The November 2025 shutdown created a layered global backlog of visa appointments requiring several weeks to months to…
43-Day Government Shutdown: Estimated Airline Losses and Impacts
The 35-day 2018–2019 shutdown caused air traffic staffing shortages that forced cancellations and reroutes, costing Delta up to…
Timeline for Air Traffic Control Staffing Return to Normal by 2028
The shutdown paused hiring and training, widening a 3,500‑controller shortfall. The FAA aims to restore staffing by 2028,…
Will TSA Wait Times Return to Normal After the Shutdown Ends?
Shutdown-related unpaid TSA staff callouts caused multi-hour security waits in Houston and Newark, despite a five-minute national average.…
Airports With the Most Cancellations During the FAA’s 10% Capacity Cut
The FAA’s 10% capacity cut on Nov. 7, 2025 hit the busiest hubs hardest: ATL had the most…
Is SEVP Back to Normal Operations After the Shutdown?
Because SEVP is fee-funded, it stayed operational through the shutdown. Schools and AILA reported uninterrupted SEVIS access, continued…
How Many Days Until DOL FLAG System Returns Online After Shutdown
FLAG returned to service on October 31, 2025 after a month-long shutdown-related outage. DOL restored access for PERM,…
When Will FAA Operations Return to Normal? Delays and Cancellations
Following the shutdown, the FAA is keeping a 6% flight capacity cap and airlines cut service at 40…