🔗 Share this article

With the record-breaking federal government shutdown nears day 38, US airspace is about to get less congested. This doesn't apply for US terminals.

Safety Measures Put in Place

Donald Trump’s air traffic agency stated flight numbers are being lowered to uphold air traffic control safety during the federal government funding lapse, setting a new duration record and with no sign of a agreement between conservative legislators and Democratic representatives to end the federal budget standoff.

Aviation authorities identified “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by early morning Eastern Time on Friday, a move that would force airlines to call off thousands of journeys and create a cascade of scheduling issues and delays at major US air terminals.

Government Commentary

The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, wrote on X Thursday that the move was “not politically driven” but rather “about assessing the data and reducing building risk in the system as controllers continue working without pay”.

“Air travel remains secure today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the forward-thinking steps we are taking,” the official added.

Airline Cutbacks

Analysts forecast hundreds if not thousands of flights might be called off. The flight decreases may constitute as many as 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats collectively, per an calculation by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Impacted Locations

The targeted air hubs including more than two dozen states include the busiest ones across the US – such as ATL, CLT, DEN, Texas metroplex, Florida destination, California gateway, Florida hotspot and San Francisco. Among key urban centers – like New York, Texas city and Chicago – several air terminals will be impacted.

All three airports serving the nation's capital region – Dulles Airport, BWI and Reagan National – will be involved, likely creating delays and cancellations for government officials as well as the flying public.

Other Developments

• Here’s the list of US airports reducing air travel on Friday because of federal government funding lapse.
• A previous justice department staffer who hurled a sandwich at a government officer during the administration's law enforcement surge in DC was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal setback of the federal involvement.
• Certain Democratic lawmakers viewed Tuesday’s significant election victories as indication they should maintain their position and gain maximum concessions from Republicans before agreeing to end the longest government shutdown in history.
• Liberal lawmakers commended Nancy Pelosi as a “courageous, pioneering” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, after her announcement that following two decades in Congress she will leave office.
• The conservative leader, the chief of the right-leaning policy organization behind the policy blueprint, has apologized for backing the commentator's interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to resign.