ORLANDO, Fla. – As discussions in Washington aim to resolve the persistent government shutdown, disruptions at airports nationwide, including Orlando International Airport (MCO), have been worsening.

Last week, the FAA directed 40 major airports, with Orlando among them, to scale back flight operations due to a dwindling number of air traffic controllers, a consequence of the shutdown.

Data from FlightAware reveals that on Monday alone, MCO experienced over 300 flight delays and upwards of 100 cancellations. These figures may climb as the FAA tightens restrictions, upping the mandated reductions from the current 4% to 6% on Tuesday and reaching 10% by Friday.

[WATCH: FAA curtails air traffic in ‘high-volume’ areas]

This reduction strategy addresses the shortage of air traffic controllers. The FAA has highlighted that the ongoing government shutdown is placing significant pressure on the aviation infrastructure.

Two families trying to get home said they’ve already felt the impact of delays.

South Dakota traveler Todd Dvoracek, who was traveling with his family of five, said, “We have a 30-minute delay.”

However, he added, “If we have another delay, we won’t make our connecting flight.”

The family said if that happens, they may have to drive 22 hours to get home.

Meanwhile, Ella Delaossa, who was trying to fly to Idaho, said, “I feel like we’re going to keep getting delayed.”

[WATCH: TSA workers feel financial strain as government shutdown drags on]

For other passengers, delays turned into cancellations. LaShae Morris from Houston, Texas, said her day quickly went from bad to worse when her flight was canceled Monday morning.

“I was feeling pissed. I was livid,” Morris said. “I was on the cruise and my phone was on airplane mode. When I turned it on, there it was — your flight has been canceled.”

Morris said the airline gave her the option to get a full refund or rebook. She chose to rebook in hopes of getting home soon.

“If it cancels tomorrow, my plan is to get the full refund back and drive to Houston because I don’t want to keep doing this,” she said.

That would turn what is normally around a two-hour flight into a 13-hour drive.

“I have to get back to work and my daughter has to get back to school,” Morris said.

Other passengers, like Laura Dahl from North Carolina, said even those whose flights haven’t been canceled yet are anxious.

“It’s not safe to have people stranded. It’s also not fair to the employees that are worried about their own livelihoods either, so this is a mess — as big of a mess as could be,” Dahl said.

Airport officials are advising passengers to check their flight status before arriving at the airport and to arrive at least three hours before departure as the FAA’s flight reductions continue.