🔗 Share this article Government Reduces US Flights as Shutdown Drags On Amid the record-breaking federal government standoff nears day 38, US skies are set to become less congested. The same cannot be said for US air travel hubs. Protective Actions Implemented The current administration's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced flight numbers are being lowered to maintain air traffic control safety during the federal government closure, now the longest recorded and with little indication of a resolution between conservative legislators and liberal officials to end the federal budget impasse. Aviation authorities pinpointed “congested corridors” where the FAA says air traffic needs cutting by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, a step requiring airlines to scrub numerous flights and cause a series of scheduling problems and setbacks at key American travel hubs. Official Statement The federal transportation leader, Sean Duffy, commented on online platforms Thursday that the action was “not about politics” but rather “involving evaluation the data and mitigating growing safety concerns 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 forward-thinking steps we are taking,” he stated. Travel Disruptions Experts predict numerous potentially thousands of flights may be scrapped. These reductions may constitute up to 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats collectively, per an calculation by the aviation analytics firm Cirium. Affected Airports The involved terminals spanning over 25 states include the most trafficked across the US – such as ATL, CLT, Colorado's hub, Dallas/Fort Worth, Orlando, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco. Within major metropolitan areas – like New York, Houston and Illinois hub – multiple airports will be affected. All three airports serving the Washington DC area – IAD, BWI Airport and Reagan National – will be involved, certainly generating delays and cancellations for government officials as well as the flying public. Other Developments This is the list of US airports reducing air travel on Friday due to federal government closure. A former Department of Justice employee who tossed food at a government officer during the current law enforcement surge in the capital was found not guilty of assault by a DC jury on Thursday representing a recent legal rejection of the federal involvement. Some Democratic legislators interpreted Tuesday’s big electoral wins as proof they should stand firm and extract as much as possible from GOP members before consenting to conclude the record-breaking budget standoff in history. Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “heroic, trailblazing” member of the US House of Representatives, an “icon” and the “most accomplished leader in American history”, subsequent to her announcement that following two decades in Congress she plans to retire. The thinktank head, the chief of the political research group behind the conservative initiative, has apologized for endorsing Tucker Carlson’s interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is resisting calls to resign.