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As the historic federal government shutdown approaches day 38, US skies will become somewhat quieter. The same cannot be said for US airports.

Protective Actions Put in Place

Donald Trump’s air traffic agency announced flights are being reduced to ensure air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government closure, now the longest recorded and with no apparent progress of a resolution between conservative legislators and liberal officials to end the federal budget standoff.

Flight oversight bodies selected “busiest routes” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by early morning Eastern Time on Friday, a step requiring airlines to cancel thousands of flights and create a cascade of scheduling problems and hold-ups at key American travel hubs.

Administration Remarks

The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, wrote on social media Thursday that the move was “not politically driven” but rather “involving evaluation the data and reducing growing safety concerns 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,” the official added.

Travel Disruptions

Specialists anticipate numerous potentially thousands of flights could be canceled. The cuts may constitute as many as 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats combined, according to an calculation by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Impacted Locations

The targeted air hubs including more than two dozen states include the highest-volume locations across the US – such as Georgia's capital, CLT, DEN, Dallas/Fort Worth, Florida destination, California gateway, Miami and SFO. Among key urban centers – like New York, Texas city and Chicago – various airports will be affected.

Each of the three air terminals serving the nation's capital region – Washington Dulles international, BWI and DCA – will be involved, certainly generating delays and cancellations for elected representatives as well as additional passengers.

Related Updates

• Below is the roster of domestic airports decreasing flights on Friday due to federal government shutdown.
• A previous justice department staffer who hurled a sandwich at a federal agent during the administration's law enforcement presence in DC was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal rejection of the federal intervention.
• Some Democratic legislators viewed Tuesday’s big electoral wins as evidence they should stand firm and gain maximum concessions from Republicans before consenting to conclude the record-breaking budget standoff in history.
• Democrats praised Nancy Pelosi as a “courageous, pioneering” member of the US House of Representatives, an “icon” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, after her announcement that post twenty congressional sessions in Congress she will leave office.
• The conservative leader, the chief of the right-leaning policy organization behind the conservative initiative, issued an apology for endorsing the commentator's interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to resign.