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With the record-breaking federal government shutdown stretches toward day 38, US airspace will become less congested. Contrastingly for US airports.

Protective Actions Enacted

Donald Trump’s aviation regulatory body stated air travel is being curtailed to uphold air traffic control security during the federal government shutdown, now the longest recorded and with no apparent progress of a solution between Republicans and liberal officials to end the federal budget standoff.

Aviation authorities pinpointed “busiest routes” where the FAA says air traffic needs cutting by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, a step requiring airlines to cancel thousands of flights and cause a chain reaction of scheduling complications and delays at some of the nation’s largest airports.

Government Commentary

The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, stated on online platforms Thursday that the decision was “not about politics” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and mitigating growing safety concerns in the system as air traffic professionals continue working without pay”.

“Flying is safe today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the preventive measures we are taking,” he remarked.

Airline Cutbacks

Specialists anticipate hundreds or even thousands of flights may be scrapped. The flight decreases could represent up to 1,800 flights and more than 268,000 seats total, based on an calculation by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Targeted Terminals

The targeted air hubs including numerous states include the highest-volume locations across the US – including Atlanta, CLT, Colorado's hub, Texas metroplex, Florida destination, Los Angeles, MIA and San Francisco. Among key urban centers – including NYC, Houston and Illinois hub – multiple airports will be impacted.

The trio of airports operating in the Washington DC area – Dulles Airport, BWI Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington national – will be impacted, inevitably causing flight disruptions for government officials as well as the flying public.

Other Developments

• Here’s the list of US airports decreasing flights on Friday due to federal government shutdown.
• A previous justice department staffer who hurled a sandwich at a federal agent during the current law enforcement surge in Washington DC was found not guilty of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal rebuke of the federal involvement.
• Some Democratic legislators interpreted Tuesday’s big electoral wins as evidence they should stand firm and extract as much as possible from conservative lawmakers before approving the termination of the longest government shutdown in history.
• Liberal lawmakers commended Nancy Pelosi as a “heroic, trailblazing” member of the US House of Representatives, an “icon” and the “finest presiding officer in American history”, after her announcement that after 20 terms in Congress she intends to step down.
• Kevin Roberts, the chief of the conservative thinktank behind Project 2025, has apologized for supporting Tucker Carlson’s interview with Hitler admirer Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to leave his position.