🔗 Share this article Government Lowers US Air Travel as Government Closure Stretches On As the historic federal government standoff stretches toward day 38, US skies are set to become less congested. This doesn't apply for US terminals. Precautionary Steps Enacted The current administration's aviation regulatory body has said flights are being reduced to uphold air traffic control safety during the federal government funding lapse, setting a new duration record and with no apparent progress of a agreement between GOP lawmakers and Democrats to end the federal budget standoff. Airline regulators selected “congested corridors” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, an action that will compel airlines to cancel thousands of flights and trigger a chain reaction of scheduling problems and hold-ups at key American travel hubs. Administration Remarks The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, stated on X Thursday that the move was “not politically driven” but rather “about assessing the data and alleviating growing safety concerns in the system as controllers continue working without pay”. “Flying is safe today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the preventive measures we are taking,” Duffy added. Flight Cancellations Analysts forecast hundreds or even thousands of flights might be called off. The cuts may constitute approximately 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats total, according to an calculation by the aviation analytics firm Cirium. Targeted Terminals The affected airports including over 25 states include the highest-volume locations across the US – including Georgia's capital, CLT, DEN, Texas metroplex, Orlando, California gateway, Florida hotspot and San Francisco. Within major metropolitan areas – such as NYC, Houston and Chicago – various airports will be involved. The trio of airports operating in the nation's capital region – Dulles Airport, BWI Airport and Reagan National – will be affected, inevitably causing delays and cancellations for lawmakers as well as other travelers. Other Developments Below is the roster of domestic airports decreasing flights on Friday because of federal government closure. A former Department of Justice employee who threw a sandwich at a federal officer during the administration's law enforcement increase in DC was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday marking another legal rebuke of the federal involvement. Some Democratic legislators viewed Tuesday’s significant election victories as proof they should stand firm and gain maximum concessions from conservative lawmakers before consenting to conclude the longest government shutdown in history. Democrats praised Nancy Pelosi as a “bold, groundbreaking” member of the US House of Representatives, an “symbol” and the “most accomplished leader in American history”, following her announcement that post twenty congressional sessions in Congress she plans to retire. The thinktank head, the director of the political research group behind Project 2025, has apologized for backing the commentator's interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to leave his position.