The US Department of Transportation has hired 2,000 people through a scheme that specifically recruited video gamers, particularly Fortnite players, to become air traffic controllers, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on 9 August. The initiative addresses a chronic shortage of controllers as flight numbers rise, a gap that risks more delays, cancellations and safety incidents. It follows a 2025 recruitment campaign that drew on testimony from serving controllers who credited gaming with sharpening the quick decision-making skills the job demands.

Air traffic control is a well-paid career, with median annual wages of $144,580 in 2024, but normally requires years of training and accepts only a small proportion of applicants. Duffy said the new streamlined process got recruits into the training academy faster than previous intakes, while marketing had directly targeted young gamers using footage of titles such as Fortnite. The move has drawn public criticism, with commentators noting that recent government shutdowns have undermined pay stability for controllers, potentially worsening the very shortage the scheme aims to fix, and that speeding up recruitment in such a high-stakes role carries inherent risk.