🔗 Share this article Government Cuts Back US Air Travel as Shutdown Stretches On With the record-breaking federal government shutdown nears day 38, US skies is about to get a little less busy. This doesn't apply for US air travel hubs. Precautionary Steps Enacted Donald Trump’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said flight numbers are being lowered to uphold air traffic control security during the federal government closure, now the longest recorded and with no apparent progress of a solution between GOP lawmakers and Democrats to end the federal budget deadlock. Airline regulators selected “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic must be reduced by 4% by early morning Eastern Time on Friday, a move that would force airlines to cancel thousands of flights and trigger a series of scheduling issues and delays at major US air terminals. Government Commentary The federal transportation leader, Sean Duffy, stated on online platforms Thursday that the action was “not politically driven” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and reducing growing safety concerns in the system as flight directors continue working without pay”. “Flying is safe today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the proactive actions we are taking,” the official stated. Airline Cutbacks Specialists anticipate numerous potentially thousands of flights could be canceled. These reductions could represent as many as 1,800 flights and more than 268,000 seats combined, based on an calculation by the aviation analytics firm Cirium. Impacted Locations The involved terminals spanning over 25 states include the most trafficked across the US – featuring ATL, North Carolina's city, Colorado's hub, Dallas/Fort Worth, Orlando, LAX, Miami and SFO. Among key urban centers – such as NYC, Houston and Illinois hub – multiple airports will be involved. The trio of airports serving the DC metro – Washington Dulles international, BWI Airport and Reagan National – will be involved, likely creating flight disruptions for elected representatives as well as the flying public. Related Updates Below is the compilation of American air terminals decreasing flights on Friday because of federal government shutdown. An ex-DOJ worker who hurled a sandwich at a government officer during the current law enforcement increase in DC was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal rejection of the federal action. Certain Democratic lawmakers saw Tuesday’s big electoral wins as indication they should maintain their position and secure the best deal from Republicans before consenting to conclude the lengthiest federal closure in history. Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “courageous, pioneering” member of the US House of Representatives, an “icon” and the “finest presiding officer in American history”, after her declaration that post twenty congressional sessions in Congress she will leave office. Kevin Roberts, the chief of the right-leaning policy organization behind the conservative initiative, has apologized for supporting the host's interview with Hitler admirer Nick Fuentes, but is resisting calls to step down.