🔗 Share this article

Amid the historic federal government shutdown approaches day 38, US flight paths is about to get less congested. The same cannot be said for US terminals.

Protective Actions Implemented

The current administration's air traffic agency stated air travel is being curtailed to ensure air traffic control safety during the federal government shutdown, setting a new duration record and with no apparent progress of a agreement between GOP lawmakers and Democratic representatives to end the federal budget standoff.

Aviation authorities selected “busiest routes” where the FAA says air traffic needs cutting by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, a step requiring airlines to cancel thousands of flights and trigger a series of scheduling problems and hold-ups at key American travel hubs.

Administration Remarks

The federal transportation leader, Sean Duffy, commented on social media Thursday that the decision was “not about politics” but rather “involving evaluation the data and alleviating accumulating danger in the system as controllers continue working without pay”.

“Flying is safe today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the forward-thinking steps we are taking,” the official stated.

Flight Cancellations

Experts predict numerous potentially thousands of flights might be called off. The flight decreases may constitute up to 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats collectively, according to an calculation by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The targeted air hubs covering over 25 states include the busiest ones across the US – such as Georgia's capital, Charlotte, DEN, Dallas/Fort Worth, Orlando, Los Angeles, Florida hotspot and San Francisco. Within major metropolitan areas – like NYC, Texas city and Illinois hub – multiple airports will be affected.

Each of the three air terminals operating in the DC metro – Dulles Airport, BWI and Ronald Reagan Washington national – will be involved, inevitably causing schedule changes for lawmakers as well as the flying public.

Other Developments

• Below is 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 government officer during the administration's law enforcement presence in DC was found not guilty of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal setback of the federal involvement.
• Some Democratic legislators interpreted Tuesday’s major voting successes as indication they should stand firm and extract as much as possible from GOP members before approving the termination of the record-breaking budget standoff in history.
• Liberal lawmakers commended Nancy Pelosi as a “courageous, pioneering” 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 intends to step down.
• The thinktank head, the director of the conservative thinktank behind the conservative initiative, issued an apology for backing the commentator's interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is resisting calls to leave his position.