Transportation agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), can impose delays, slow or stop traffic, or cancel flights to maintain safety when they determine the system cannot be managed safely.
November 02, 2025
high
policy
General policy practice for managing transportation system safety during staffing shortages or other operational constraints.
In 2025, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) withheld over $40 million in federal funds from the state of California after a federal probe found California's commercial driver's license (CDL) program failed to comply with English Language Proficiency standards.
October 15, 2025
high
temporal
Federal enforcement action linking FMCSA funding to state compliance with CDL English-language proficiency requirements.
The Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining the safety of U.S. airspace and can take operational measures, such as slowing or halting air traffic, if controller staffing levels or focus are insufficient to ensure safety.
medium
operational
Describes authorities and safety responsibilities related to air traffic operations.