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

Protective Actions Implemented

Donald Trump’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced flight numbers are being lowered to ensure air traffic control security during the federal government shutdown, now the longest recorded and with no apparent progress of a agreement between GOP lawmakers and Democratic representatives to end the federal budget standoff.

Aviation authorities pinpointed “busiest routes” where the FAA says air traffic must be reduced by 4% by 6 a.m. Eastern on Friday, an action that will compel airlines to call off thousands of journeys and trigger a series of scheduling problems and setbacks at key American travel hubs.

Official Statement

The federal transportation leader, Sean Duffy, commented on X Thursday that the action was “not politically driven” but rather “about assessing the data and mitigating growing safety concerns in the system as controllers continue working without pay”.

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

Flight Cancellations

Analysts forecast numerous potentially thousands of flights might be called off. These reductions may constitute up to 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats collectively, per an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The targeted air hubs covering numerous states include the busiest ones across the US – such as ATL, Charlotte, DEN, DFW, Florida destination, Los Angeles, MIA and San Francisco. In some of the biggest cities – including New York, Houston and Chicago – multiple airports will be affected.

The trio of airports serving the nation's capital region – Washington Dulles international, BWI and DCA – will be impacted, inevitably causing flight disruptions for elected representatives as well as the flying public.

Additional Developments

• Here’s the list of US airports decreasing flights on Friday as a result of federal government funding lapse.
• A previous justice department staffer who hurled a sandwich at a federal officer during the current law enforcement presence in DC received a not guilty verdict of assault by a DC jury on Thursday marking another legal setback of the federal action.
• Some Democratic legislators saw Tuesday’s significant election victories as proof they should hold the line and extract as much as possible from conservative lawmakers before agreeing to end the record-breaking budget standoff in history.
• Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “bold, groundbreaking” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “finest presiding officer in American history”, subsequent to her announcement that after 20 terms in Congress she intends to step down.
• The conservative leader, the chief of the conservative thinktank behind the conservative initiative, expressed regret for endorsing the commentator's interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to resign.