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With the historic federal government closure approaches day 38, US flight paths are set to become less congested. The same cannot be said for US terminals.

Safety Measures Implemented

The federal Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced flights are being reduced to ensure air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government shutdown, setting a new duration record and with no sign of a agreement between GOP lawmakers and liberal officials to end the federal budget impasse.

Airline regulators selected “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by 6 a.m. Eastern on Friday, a move that would force airlines to scrub numerous flights and trigger a cascade of scheduling complications and setbacks at major US air terminals.

Administration Remarks

Trump’s transportation chief, Sean Duffy, wrote on X Thursday that the move was “not politically driven” but rather “about assessing the data and alleviating building risk in the system as air traffic professionals continue working without pay”.

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

Flight Cancellations

Experts predict hundreds or even thousands of flights could be canceled. These reductions could represent approximately 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats collectively, per an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The involved terminals spanning over 25 states include the busiest ones across the US – featuring Atlanta, North Carolina's city, Colorado's hub, DFW, Orlando, Los Angeles, Miami and SFO. Within major metropolitan areas – like New York, Texas city and Illinois hub – several air terminals will be impacted.

The trio of airports serving the nation's capital region – Washington Dulles international, BWI Airport and DCA – will be impacted, inevitably causing flight disruptions for elected representatives as well as additional passengers.

Related Updates

• This is the compilation of American air terminals reducing air travel on Friday as a result 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 presence in the capital received a not guilty verdict of assault by a DC jury on Thursday representing a recent legal rebuke of the federal intervention.
• Some Democratic legislators viewed Tuesday’s major voting successes as proof they should maintain their position and gain maximum concessions from conservative lawmakers 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 “symbol” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, subsequent to her declaration that after 20 terms in Congress she plans to retire.
• The thinktank head, the director of the right-leaning policy organization behind the policy blueprint, has apologized for supporting the host's interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is resisting calls to resign.