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Amid the record-breaking federal government closure stretches toward day 38, US flight paths are set to become a little less busy. The same cannot be said for US airports.

Precautionary Steps Put in Place

The current administration's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said flights are being reduced to maintain air traffic control safety during the federal government funding lapse, setting a new duration record and with no sign of a resolution between Republicans and Democrats to end the federal budget impasse.

Airline regulators identified “congested corridors” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by early morning Eastern Time on Friday, an action that will compel airlines to cancel thousands of flights and create a chain reaction of scheduling problems and hold-ups at some of the nation’s largest airports.

Administration Remarks

The federal transportation leader, Sean Duffy, commented on X Thursday that the move was “not about politics” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and mitigating building risk in the system as air traffic professionals continue working without pay”.

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

Travel Disruptions

Analysts forecast hundreds or even thousands of flights may be scrapped. These reductions could represent as many as 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats collectively, per an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Impacted Locations

The affected airports including numerous states include the busiest ones across the US – featuring ATL, CLT, DEN, DFW, MCO, Los Angeles, Florida hotspot and Bay Area airport. In some of the biggest cities – like NYC, Houston and Illinois hub – multiple airports will be impacted.

All three airports operating in the DC metro – Dulles Airport, BWI Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington national – will be involved, certainly generating delays and cancellations for lawmakers as well as the flying public.

Related Updates

• Below is 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 Donald Trump’s law enforcement surge in the capital was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal rebuke of the federal intervention.
• Some Democratic legislators viewed Tuesday’s significant election victories as proof they should stand firm and secure the best deal from conservative lawmakers before agreeing to end the lengthiest federal closure in history.
• Democrats praised Nancy Pelosi as a “heroic, trailblazing” member of the US House of Representatives, an “symbol” and the “most accomplished leader in American history”, following her declaration that post twenty congressional sessions in Congress she will leave office.
• The thinktank head, the leader of the conservative thinktank behind the conservative initiative, issued an apology for backing Tucker Carlson’s interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to step down.