Shortage of military air traffic controllers impacts safety, mission, watchdog says

As civilian air traffic controllers working for the military leave for more lucrative contracts elsewhere, a federal watchdog is sounding the alarm that their exodus could be contributing to readiness, safety, and training issues.

Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force officials say they can’t compete with the civilian sector to recruit and retain their civilian air traffic control workforce, according to a Department of Defense Inspector General report released last week. The average air traffic control specialist pay across the Air Force is around $113,032. Average pay at the Federal Aviation Administration is $161,150, which is a difference of about 43%, according to a 2026 RAND report cited by the Inspector General.

The Inspector General also found that the services are using inconsistent job grades that don’t reflect the actual demands of the job. Those job grades dictate their classification as federal workers, which impacts their salary and career path. RAND also noted that the FAA’s pay bands “provide greater pay flexibility and address pay disparities.”

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The Federal Aviation Administration controls the National Airspace System, which includes controlled and uncontrolled airspace over the U.S. and surrounding waters. The military services maintain their own air traffic control workforce, which coordinates with the FAA for military operations and flights. According to the Inspector General, the Department of Defense controlled 29% of the national airspace’s traffic, and the FAA controlled 71% of it in fiscal year 2024.

The Department of Defense’s air traffic control shortages “negatively impact” aviation safety and overall readiness, the Inspector Gener…