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With the record-breaking federal government shutdown approaches day 38, US skies is about to get a little less busy. Contrastingly for US terminals.

Safety Measures Put in Place

The federal air traffic agency announced flight numbers are being lowered to ensure air traffic control safety during the federal government funding lapse, setting a new duration record and with no apparent progress of a solution between conservative legislators and liberal officials to end the federal budget impasse.

Aviation authorities selected “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic needs cutting by 4% by early morning Eastern Time on Friday, a move that would force airlines to scrub numerous flights and create a series of scheduling problems and delays at major US air terminals.

Government Commentary

Trump’s transportation chief, Sean Duffy, wrote on X Thursday that the action was “not politically driven” but rather “involving evaluation the data and alleviating accumulating danger in the system as flight directors continue working without pay”.

“Air travel remains secure today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the proactive actions we are taking,” Duffy remarked.

Travel Disruptions

Analysts forecast hundreds if not thousands of flights may be scrapped. These reductions could represent approximately 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats combined, based on an estimate by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Impacted Locations

The involved terminals covering over 25 states include the busiest ones across the US – featuring ATL, Charlotte, DEN, Texas metroplex, Florida destination, Los Angeles, MIA and San Francisco. Among key urban centers – like NYC, Texas city and Illinois hub – several air terminals will be involved.

All three airports serving the DC metro – Dulles Airport, BWI and DCA – will be impacted, certainly generating flight disruptions for lawmakers as well as the flying public.

Related Updates

• Below is the list of US airports decreasing flights on Friday due to federal government funding lapse.
• A former Department of Justice employee who threw a sandwich at a federal agent during Donald Trump’s law enforcement increase in Washington DC was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal setback of the federal intervention.
• Certain Democratic lawmakers viewed Tuesday’s significant election victories as proof they should stand firm and gain maximum concessions from conservative lawmakers before approving the termination of the longest government shutdown in history.
• Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “courageous, pioneering” member of the US House of Representatives, an “symbol” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, following her announcement that following two decades in Congress she plans to retire.
• The thinktank head, the chief of the right-leaning policy organization behind Project 2025, issued an apology for supporting the host's interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to resign.