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Amid the unprecedented federal government closure stretches toward day 38, US skies is about to get less congested. This doesn't apply for US air travel hubs.

Protective Actions Put in Place

Donald Trump’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said flights are being reduced to uphold air traffic control safety during the federal government funding lapse, setting a new duration record and with no sign of a resolution between conservative legislators and Democratic representatives to end the federal budget deadlock.

Airline regulators selected “congested corridors” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by 6 a.m. Eastern on Friday, an action that will compel airlines to call off thousands of journeys and trigger a series of scheduling complications and hold-ups at major US air terminals.

Administration Remarks

The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, commented on X Thursday that the decision was “unrelated to political motives” but rather “involving evaluation the data and reducing accumulating danger in the system as air traffic professionals continue working without pay”.

“Air travel remains secure today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the proactive actions we are taking,” he added.

Flight Cancellations

Analysts forecast hundreds if not thousands of flights could be canceled. The cuts might account for as many as 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats collectively, according to an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Targeted Terminals

The targeted air hubs covering over 25 states include the highest-volume locations across the US – such as ATL, Charlotte, Denver, DFW, Orlando, Los Angeles, MIA and San Francisco. Within major metropolitan areas – including New York, Houston and Chicago – various airports will be affected.

The trio of airports serving the nation's capital region – Washington Dulles international, BWI Airport and DCA – will be impacted, inevitably causing flight disruptions for lawmakers as well as additional passengers.

Additional Developments

• This is the compilation of American air terminals reducing air travel on Friday because of federal government shutdown.
• A previous justice department staffer who tossed food at a federal officer during Donald Trump’s law enforcement increase in the capital was found not guilty of assault by a DC jury on Thursday marking another legal setback of the federal action.
• Several liberal representatives viewed 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 record-breaking budget standoff in history.
• Liberal lawmakers commended Nancy Pelosi as a “courageous, pioneering” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “most accomplished leader in American history”, following her statement that post twenty congressional sessions in Congress she intends to step down.
• Kevin Roberts, the director of the right-leaning policy organization behind Project 2025, has apologized for endorsing the host's interview with Hitler admirer Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to leave his position.