🔗 Share this article

Amid the historic federal government standoff stretches toward day 38, US skies will become somewhat quieter. This doesn't apply for US air travel hubs.

Precautionary Steps Implemented

Donald Trump’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced air travel is being curtailed to maintain air traffic control safety during the federal government closure, setting a new duration record and with no sign of a solution between Republicans and Democratic representatives to end the federal budget impasse.

Flight oversight bodies pinpointed “congested corridors” where the FAA says air traffic needs cutting by 4% by early morning Eastern Time on Friday, a step requiring airlines to call off thousands of journeys and create a series of scheduling problems and setbacks at major US air terminals.

Administration Remarks

The federal transportation leader, Sean Duffy, wrote on X Thursday that the move was “not about politics” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and mitigating accumulating danger in the system as flight directors continue working without pay”.

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

Travel Disruptions

Analysts forecast numerous potentially thousands of flights could be canceled. The flight decreases could represent as many as 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats collectively, according to an estimate by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The affected airports spanning numerous states include the highest-volume locations across the US – such as Georgia's capital, North Carolina's city, Denver, DFW, MCO, LAX, Miami and SFO. In some of the biggest cities – including New York, Houston and Illinois hub – multiple airports will be involved.

Each of the three air terminals serving the DC metro – IAD, BWI Airport and DCA – will be affected, inevitably causing delays and cancellations for lawmakers as well as other travelers.

Other Developments

• Here’s the list of US airports cutting flights on Friday because of federal government funding lapse.
• A previous justice department staffer who threw a sandwich at a federal officer during the current law enforcement surge in DC received a not guilty verdict of assault by a DC jury on Thursday representing a recent legal rejection of the federal intervention.
• Several liberal representatives interpreted Tuesday’s significant election victories as evidence they should stand firm and secure the best deal from conservative lawmakers before approving the termination of the longest government shutdown in history.
• Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “bold, groundbreaking” member of the US House of Representatives, an “icon” and the “most accomplished leader in American history”, after her declaration that following two decades in Congress she intends to step down.
• The thinktank head, the leader of the political research group behind the conservative initiative, expressed regret for supporting the commentator's interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to resign.