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With the historic federal government standoff approaches day 38, US skies is about to get a little less busy. Contrastingly for US air travel hubs.

Protective Actions Enacted

The current administration's air traffic agency stated air travel is being curtailed to maintain air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government closure, currently the lengthiest in history and with little indication of a resolution between Republicans and Democratic representatives to end the federal budget deadlock.

Flight oversight bodies selected “busiest routes” where the FAA says air traffic must be reduced by 4% by early morning Eastern Time on Friday, a step requiring airlines to call off thousands of journeys and create a cascade of scheduling complications and delays at some of the nation’s largest airports.

Government Commentary

Trump’s transportation chief, Sean Duffy, commented on social media Thursday that the move was “unrelated to political motives” but rather “involving evaluation 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 proactive actions we are taking,” Duffy stated.

Travel Disruptions

Specialists anticipate hundreds if not thousands of flights could be canceled. The flight decreases could represent up to 1,800 flights and more than 268,000 seats combined, according to an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The affected airports spanning numerous states include the highest-volume locations across the US – featuring Georgia's capital, Charlotte, Colorado's hub, Dallas/Fort Worth, Orlando, California gateway, MIA and San Francisco. Within major metropolitan areas – such as NYC, Texas city and Illinois hub – various airports will be involved.

All three airports serving the Washington DC area – Washington Dulles international, BWI Airport and DCA – will be impacted, likely creating flight disruptions for lawmakers as well as other travelers.

Related Updates

• Below is the roster of domestic airports decreasing flights on Friday due to federal government closure.
• A former Department of Justice employee who tossed food at a federal officer during the current law enforcement increase in Washington 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 significant election victories as indication they should hold the line and gain maximum concessions from Republicans before agreeing to end the longest government shutdown in history.
• Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “courageous, pioneering” member of the US House of Representatives, an “symbol” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, after her declaration that after 20 terms in Congress she intends to step down.
• The conservative leader, the chief of the conservative thinktank behind Project 2025, issued an apology for endorsing the commentator's interview with Hitler admirer Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to step down.