Administration Cuts Back US Flights as Government Closure Continues

Amid the historic federal government shutdown stretches toward day 38, US flight paths are set to become less congested. The same cannot be said for US airports.

Precautionary Steps Enacted

The current administration's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced flights are being reduced to maintain air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government shutdown, setting a new duration record and with no sign of a resolution between Republicans and liberal officials to end the federal budget impasse.

Flight oversight bodies selected “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, a move that would force airlines to call off thousands of journeys and cause a series of scheduling issues and hold-ups at key American travel hubs.

Official Statement

The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, stated on social media Thursday that the decision was “not politically driven” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and alleviating 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,” Duffy remarked.

Flight Cancellations

Experts predict hundreds or even thousands of flights may be scrapped. These reductions might account for approximately 1,800 flights and more than 268,000 seats total, according to an calculation by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Targeted Terminals

The targeted air hubs spanning more than two dozen states include the highest-volume locations across the US – including Atlanta, Charlotte, DEN, Dallas/Fort Worth, MCO, LAX, Florida hotspot and Bay Area airport. Within major metropolitan areas – like New York, Houston and Chicago – several air terminals will be involved.

All three airports operating in the Washington DC area – Washington Dulles international, Baltimore/Washington international and Ronald Reagan Washington national – will be impacted, inevitably causing delays and cancellations for elected representatives as well as additional passengers.

Other Developments

• Here’s the list of US airports reducing air travel on Friday because of federal government funding lapse.
• A previous justice department staffer who threw a sandwich at a federal officer during Donald Trump’s law enforcement surge in Washington DC received a not guilty verdict of assault by a DC jury on Thursday representing a recent legal setback of the federal involvement.
• Several liberal representatives saw Tuesday’s significant election victories as evidence they should maintain their position and extract as much as possible from conservative lawmakers before consenting to conclude the longest government shutdown in history.
• Liberal lawmakers commended Nancy Pelosi as a “courageous, pioneering” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, after her statement that after 20 terms in Congress she plans to retire.
• The conservative leader, the leader of the right-leaning policy organization behind the policy blueprint, expressed regret for endorsing the host's interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to leave his position.