The Sugar Land Regional Airport in Texas will lose federal funding for its air traffic control tower due to mandatory budget cuts. The $750,000 in annual funding pays for six air traffic controllers. Without the tower, pilots will be responsible for coordinating takeoffs and landings, potentially compromising safety as Houston has very congested airspace. The loss of the tower could also result in delays of up to 1,000 hours per year at other Houston airports as additional aircraft divert to alternate airports with control towers like Hobby Airport. City officials are exploring options to fund the tower themselves temporarily but it's unclear if the FAA would allow the tower to remain open.