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With the unprecedented federal government shutdown stretches toward day 38, US skies will become a little less busy. This doesn't apply for US terminals.

Safety Measures Put in Place

Donald Trump’s aviation regulatory body has said flight numbers are being lowered to maintain air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government shutdown, currently the lengthiest in history and with no apparent progress of a agreement between Republicans and Democrats to end the federal budget deadlock.

Aviation authorities pinpointed “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic needs cutting by 4% by early morning Eastern Time on Friday, a step requiring airlines to scrub numerous flights and create a chain reaction of scheduling problems and hold-ups at major US air terminals.

Government Commentary

The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, wrote on social media Thursday that the move was “unrelated to political motives” but rather “about assessing the data and reducing building risk in the system as controllers continue working without pay”.

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

Airline Cutbacks

Experts predict hundreds or even thousands of flights might be called off. The cuts might account for up to 1,800 flights and more than 268,000 seats total, per an estimate by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Impacted Locations

The targeted air hubs including more than two dozen states include the busiest ones across the US – including Georgia's capital, Charlotte, Denver, DFW, MCO, California gateway, Miami and Bay Area airport. Among key urban centers – like NYC, Texas city and Illinois hub – multiple airports will be affected.

Each of the three air terminals operating in the Washington DC area – Washington Dulles international, BWI Airport and DCA – will be affected, certainly generating flight disruptions for lawmakers as well as the flying public.

Related Updates

• Below is the roster of domestic airports cutting flights on Friday because of federal government shutdown.
• A previous justice department staffer who tossed food at a government officer during Donald Trump’s law enforcement surge in the capital was found not guilty of assault by a DC jury on Thursday marking another legal rebuke of the federal action.
• Some Democratic legislators saw Tuesday’s major voting successes as indication they should maintain their position and extract as much as possible from conservative lawmakers before approving the termination of the record-breaking budget standoff in history.
• Liberal lawmakers commended Nancy Pelosi as a “courageous, pioneering” member of the US House of Representatives, an “icon” and the “most accomplished leader in American history”, subsequent to her announcement that post twenty congressional sessions in Congress she will leave office.
• The conservative leader, the director of the right-leaning policy organization behind Project 2025, issued an apology for backing Tucker Carlson’s interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to leave his position.