🔗 Share this article Federal Authorities Cuts Back US Air Travel as Shutdown Stretches On As the historic federal government shutdown approaches day 38, US airspace will become a little less busy. The same cannot be said for US air travel hubs. Precautionary Steps Put in Place Donald Trump’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated flight numbers are being lowered to ensure air traffic control safety during the federal government closure, currently the lengthiest in history and with no apparent progress of a agreement between GOP lawmakers and liberal officials to end the federal budget standoff. Aviation authorities identified “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic must be reduced by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, an action that will compel airlines to cancel thousands of flights and trigger a cascade of scheduling issues and setbacks at key American travel hubs. Official Statement Trump’s transportation chief, Sean Duffy, commented on X Thursday that the move was “unrelated to political motives” but rather “about assessing the data and alleviating accumulating danger in the system as controllers continue working without pay”. “It’s safe to fly today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the preventive measures we are taking,” Duffy added. Airline Cutbacks Specialists anticipate numerous potentially thousands of flights might be called off. These reductions might account for approximately 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats collectively, based on an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium. Targeted Terminals The affected airports covering over 25 states include the highest-volume locations across the US – such as Atlanta, North Carolina's city, Colorado's hub, Dallas/Fort Worth, Orlando, California gateway, Florida hotspot and San Francisco. Among key urban centers – like NYC, Texas city and Chicago – various airports will be affected. All three airports operating in the nation's capital region – Washington Dulles international, BWI and Ronald Reagan Washington national – will be affected, likely creating flight disruptions for elected representatives as well as additional passengers. Additional Developments Here’s the roster of domestic airports decreasing flights on Friday because of federal government funding lapse. A former Department of Justice employee who hurled a sandwich at a federal officer during Donald Trump’s law enforcement increase in the capital was found not guilty of assault by a DC jury on Thursday marking another legal rebuke of the federal intervention. Several liberal representatives saw Tuesday’s big electoral wins as indication they should stand firm and secure the best deal from conservative lawmakers before consenting to conclude the lengthiest federal closure in history. Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “heroic, trailblazing” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, subsequent to her announcement that following two decades in Congress she will leave office. Kevin Roberts, the leader of the political research group behind the policy blueprint, issued an apology for supporting the commentator's interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is resisting calls to leave his position.