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As the historic federal government shutdown stretches toward day 38, US skies is about to get a little less busy. The same cannot be said for US airports.

Safety Measures Implemented

Donald Trump’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said flights are being reduced to maintain air traffic control security during the federal government shutdown, now the longest recorded and with no apparent progress of a solution between Republicans and liberal officials to end the federal budget standoff.

Flight oversight bodies identified “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic must be reduced by 4% by early morning Eastern Time on Friday, an action that will compel airlines to scrub numerous flights and create a cascade of scheduling issues and hold-ups at some of the nation’s largest airports.

Administration Remarks

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

“Air travel remains secure today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the preventive measures we are taking,” Duffy remarked.

Flight Cancellations

Analysts forecast hundreds if not thousands of flights could be canceled. The flight decreases could represent approximately 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats total, per an calculation by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Targeted Terminals

The affected airports spanning over 25 states include the highest-volume locations across the US – such as ATL, North Carolina's city, Colorado's hub, DFW, Orlando, California gateway, Miami and Bay Area airport. In some of the biggest cities – like NYC, Texas city and Chicago – multiple airports will be involved.

The trio of airports serving the DC metro – Washington Dulles international, BWI and Reagan National – will be impacted, inevitably causing delays and cancellations for lawmakers as well as the flying public.

Related Updates

• Here’s the list of US airports cutting flights on Friday due to federal government funding lapse.
• A former Department of Justice employee who tossed food at a federal agent during the current law enforcement increase in Washington DC was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday marking another legal setback of the federal action.
• Some Democratic legislators interpreted Tuesday’s big electoral wins as evidence they should hold the line and secure the best deal from Republicans before consenting to conclude the longest government shutdown in history.
• Democrats praised Nancy Pelosi as a “bold, groundbreaking” member of the US House of Representatives, an “icon” and the “most accomplished leader in American history”, subsequent to her declaration that after 20 terms in Congress she plans to retire.
• The thinktank head, the director of the political research group behind the policy blueprint, issued an apology for backing the commentator's interview with Hitler admirer Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to leave his position.