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As the historic federal government standoff stretches toward day 38, US airspace is about to get somewhat quieter. This doesn't apply for US airports.

Protective Actions Put in Place

Donald Trump’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said flight numbers are being lowered to maintain air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government shutdown, setting a new duration record and with no apparent progress of a resolution between conservative legislators and Democratic representatives to end the federal budget impasse.

Airline regulators selected “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic must be reduced by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, a step requiring airlines to cancel thousands of flights and cause a series of scheduling problems and delays at key American travel hubs.

Official Statement

Trump’s transportation chief, Sean Duffy, stated on social media Thursday that the decision was “unrelated to political motives” but rather “involving evaluation the data and mitigating growing safety concerns in the system as flight directors 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 remarked.

Travel Disruptions

Specialists anticipate numerous potentially thousands of flights could be canceled. The flight decreases may constitute as many as 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats combined, per an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The targeted air hubs covering over 25 states include the highest-volume locations across the US – such as Georgia's capital, North Carolina's city, Denver, Dallas/Fort Worth, Orlando, California gateway, Florida hotspot and San Francisco. Within major metropolitan areas – such as New York, Texas city and Chicago – multiple airports will be impacted.

All three airports serving the Washington DC area – Washington Dulles international, BWI Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington national – will be involved, inevitably causing delays and cancellations for elected representatives as well as other travelers.

Related Updates

• Here’s the list of US airports reducing air travel on Friday because of federal government shutdown.
• A former Department of Justice employee who hurled a sandwich at a federal officer during the current law enforcement increase in Washington DC was found not guilty of assault by a DC jury on Thursday representing a recent legal rejection of the federal involvement.
• Several liberal representatives interpreted Tuesday’s major voting successes as indication they should hold the line and extract as much as possible from GOP members before agreeing to end the longest government shutdown in history.
• Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “bold, groundbreaking” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “most accomplished leader in American history”, following her announcement that following two decades in Congress she plans to retire.
• The conservative leader, the leader of the conservative thinktank behind the policy blueprint, expressed regret for backing Tucker Carlson’s interview with Hitler admirer Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to leave his position.