{
  "id": 589063,
  "title": "The Transportation Department is recruiting gamers to solve its air traffic controller shortage",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/the-transportation-department-is-recruiting-gamers-to-solve-its-air",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-11T16:29:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91588574/transportation-department-recruiting-gamers-air-taffic-controller-shortage"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For over a decade, the United States has faced a shortage of air traffic controllers, leading to flight delays and heightened risks for passengers. In 2025, the Department of Transportation (DOT) launched a recruitment program targeting video game enthusiasts to address this issue. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy praised the program's success on social media, stating that it met 94% of its hiring goal for new controllers, a record-breaking pace. Over 2,000 people have been hired, with many completing the training program faster than previous classes. However, candidates must complete a two-year training program, with approximately one-third dropping out before completion. While gamers possess desirable qualities such as problem-solving skills and spatial awareness, the job comes with significant challenges. Air traffic controllers face high-stress situations, outdated equipment, and long working hours, often managing more flights than anticipated. The Department of Transportation's acceptance rate for the training program has increased, likely due to a more streamlined qualification process. Despite this, the overall number of air traffic controllers in the U.S. has declined by 6% over the past decade as the number of flights has increased by 10%. Even with the DOT's recruitment efforts, there is no clear indication that either the shortage or the attrition rate will improve in the near future.",
  "summary": "For more than a decade there has been a shortage of air traffic controllers in the U.S., which has resulted in flight delays and increased risks for air travelers. And the Department of Transportation (DOT) is looking to video game enthusiasts to help fill those gaps. The DOT first launched a program in 2025 to recruit gamers. Now Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is extolling the success of…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}