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With the record-breaking federal government closure approaches day 38, US skies will become a little less busy. The same cannot be said for US airports.

Safety Measures Implemented

Donald Trump’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated air travel is being curtailed to maintain air traffic control safety during the federal government closure, currently the lengthiest in history and with no sign of a agreement between conservative legislators and liberal officials to end the federal budget impasse.

Aviation authorities identified “congested corridors” where the FAA says air traffic must be reduced by 4% by early morning Eastern Time on Friday, a step requiring airlines to cancel thousands of flights and trigger a series of scheduling issues and delays at major US air terminals.

Government Commentary

The federal transportation leader, Sean Duffy, stated on online platforms Thursday that the move was “not politically driven” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and mitigating accumulating danger in the system as flight directors continue working without pay”.

“Air travel remains secure today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the forward-thinking steps we are taking,” he remarked.

Travel Disruptions

Experts predict hundreds or even thousands of flights may be scrapped. The flight decreases may constitute approximately 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats total, based on an estimate by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Impacted Locations

The involved terminals including numerous states include the busiest ones across the US – including Atlanta, CLT, Colorado's hub, Texas metroplex, MCO, Los Angeles, MIA and Bay Area airport. In some of the biggest cities – such as New York, Texas city and Illinois hub – several air terminals will be affected.

The trio of airports operating in the Washington DC area – Washington Dulles international, BWI and Ronald Reagan Washington national – will be involved, inevitably causing schedule changes for elected representatives as well as other travelers.

Related Updates

• Below is the roster of domestic airports cutting flights on Friday due to federal government funding lapse.
• A former Department of Justice employee who threw a sandwich at a federal officer during the administration's law enforcement increase in Washington DC was found not guilty of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal rejection of the federal intervention.
• Several liberal representatives interpreted Tuesday’s major voting successes as indication they should hold the line and secure the best deal from conservative lawmakers before approving the termination of the record-breaking budget standoff in history.
• Democrats praised Nancy Pelosi as a “heroic, trailblazing” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, following her announcement that after 20 terms in Congress she plans to retire.
• The thinktank head, the director of the right-leaning policy organization behind the policy blueprint, has apologized for backing the host's interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to leave his position.