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With the historic federal government closure approaches day 38, US airspace is about to get somewhat quieter. The same cannot be said for US air travel hubs.

Safety Measures Enacted

The current administration's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced flight numbers are being lowered to ensure air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government closure, now the longest recorded and with no sign of a agreement between GOP lawmakers and Democratic representatives to end the federal budget standoff.

Airline regulators identified “high-volume markets” 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 chain reaction of scheduling complications and delays at key American travel hubs.

Government Commentary

The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, commented on online platforms Thursday that the action was “unrelated to political motives” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and reducing growing safety concerns in the system as flight directors continue working without pay”.

“Flying is safe today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the proactive actions we are taking,” the official added.

Travel Disruptions

Experts predict hundreds if not thousands of flights may be scrapped. These reductions might account for as many as 1,800 flights and more than 268,000 seats collectively, based on an estimate by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Impacted Locations

The affected airports including over 25 states include the most trafficked across the US – including Georgia's capital, North Carolina's city, DEN, Dallas/Fort Worth, Florida destination, California gateway, Florida hotspot and Bay Area airport. Within major metropolitan areas – like NYC, Texas city and Illinois hub – multiple airports will be affected.

Each of the three air terminals operating in the DC metro – Washington Dulles international, BWI Airport and DCA – will be affected, inevitably causing schedule changes for government officials as well as other travelers.

Related Updates

• Here’s the roster of domestic airports cutting flights on Friday because of federal government funding lapse.
• A previous justice department staffer who tossed food at a federal agent during Donald Trump’s law enforcement surge in Washington DC received a not guilty verdict of assault by a DC jury on Thursday marking another legal rebuke of the federal involvement.
• Several liberal representatives interpreted Tuesday’s big electoral wins as proof they should stand firm and extract as much as possible from Republicans before agreeing to end 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”, following her announcement that following two decades in Congress she will leave office.
• The conservative leader, the director of the political research group behind Project 2025, has apologized for endorsing Tucker Carlson’s interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to leave his position.