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Amid the unprecedented federal government standoff stretches toward day 38, US airspace is about to get a little less busy. This doesn't apply for US air travel hubs.

Safety Measures Implemented

The current administration's air traffic agency has said flight numbers are being lowered to maintain air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government shutdown, setting a new duration record and with no apparent progress of a agreement between conservative legislators and Democratic representatives to end the federal budget deadlock.

Airline regulators pinpointed “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic needs cutting by 4% by 6 a.m. Eastern on Friday, a move that would force airlines to cancel thousands of flights and create a chain reaction of scheduling complications and delays at key American travel hubs.

Official Statement

Trump’s transportation chief, Sean Duffy, stated on X Thursday that the decision was “unrelated to political motives” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and mitigating building risk in the system as air traffic professionals continue working without pay”.

“It’s safe to fly today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the preventive measures we are taking,” he added.

Flight Cancellations

Specialists anticipate hundreds if not thousands of flights could be canceled. The flight decreases might account for as many as 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats total, according to an estimate by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Impacted Locations

The targeted air hubs spanning numerous states include the busiest ones across the US – such as ATL, CLT, Colorado's hub, DFW, MCO, California gateway, MIA and San Francisco. Among key urban centers – such as NYC, Houston and Illinois hub – various airports will be involved.

All three airports serving the DC metro – IAD, BWI and Ronald Reagan Washington national – will be impacted, likely creating schedule changes for government officials as well as the flying public.

Related Updates

• Below is the roster of domestic airports reducing air travel on Friday because of federal government shutdown.
• A former Department of Justice employee who hurled a sandwich at a government officer during Donald Trump’s law enforcement presence in DC was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday marking another legal rebuke of the federal action.
• Certain Democratic lawmakers saw Tuesday’s major voting successes as indication they should hold the line and extract as much as possible from conservative lawmakers before consenting to conclude the record-breaking budget standoff in history.
• Liberal lawmakers commended Nancy Pelosi as a “heroic, trailblazing” member of the US House of Representatives, an “symbol” and the “finest presiding officer in American history”, after her declaration that post twenty congressional sessions in Congress she plans to retire.
• Kevin Roberts, the director of the conservative thinktank behind the policy blueprint, issued an apology for backing the host's interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to resign.