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With the unprecedented federal government standoff approaches day 38, US skies are set to become a little less busy. The same cannot be said for US air travel hubs.

Safety Measures Enacted

The federal Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced flights are being reduced to ensure air traffic control security during the federal government shutdown, setting a new duration record and with no sign of a agreement between GOP lawmakers and Democrats to end the federal budget deadlock.

Flight oversight bodies selected “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic must be reduced by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, a step requiring airlines to cancel thousands of flights and cause a series of scheduling complications and hold-ups at key American travel hubs.

Administration Remarks

The federal transportation leader, Sean Duffy, wrote on X Thursday that the decision 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 preventive measures we are taking,” the official stated.

Travel Disruptions

Specialists anticipate numerous potentially thousands of flights could be canceled. These reductions might account for up to 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats collectively, based on an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Impacted Locations

The involved terminals spanning numerous states include the most trafficked across the US – such as Georgia's capital, CLT, DEN, Dallas/Fort Worth, MCO, LAX, MIA and SFO. Among key urban centers – such as New York, Houston and Chicago – several air terminals will be affected.

All three airports serving the DC metro – Dulles Airport, BWI Airport and Reagan National – will be impacted, likely creating flight disruptions for government officials as well as additional passengers.

Other Developments

• This is the compilation of American air terminals reducing air travel on Friday as a result of federal government shutdown.
• An ex-DOJ worker who threw a sandwich at a federal agent during Donald Trump’s law enforcement presence in DC received a not guilty verdict of assault by a DC jury on Thursday representing a recent legal setback of the federal action.
• Some Democratic legislators viewed Tuesday’s significant election victories as indication they should maintain their position and gain maximum concessions from conservative lawmakers before consenting to conclude the record-breaking budget standoff in history.
• Liberal lawmakers commended Nancy Pelosi as a “heroic, trailblazing” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, following her declaration that following two decades in Congress she will leave office.
• The thinktank head, the chief of the conservative thinktank behind the policy blueprint, issued an apology for supporting Tucker Carlson’s interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is resisting calls to step down.