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With the unprecedented federal government shutdown stretches toward day 38, US flight paths will become somewhat quieter. The same cannot be said for US air travel hubs.

Protective Actions Enacted

The federal Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said flights are being reduced to uphold air traffic control security during the federal government funding lapse, now the longest recorded and with no sign of a agreement between Republicans and Democratic representatives to end the federal budget impasse.

Flight oversight bodies identified “busiest routes” where the FAA says air traffic must be reduced by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, a move that would force airlines to scrub numerous flights and create a series of scheduling complications and setbacks at major US air terminals.

Administration Remarks

The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, wrote on social media Thursday that the action was “unrelated to political motives” but rather “involving evaluation 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,” the official added.

Flight Cancellations

Analysts forecast hundreds if not thousands of flights could be canceled. These reductions may constitute approximately 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats total, per an estimate by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The targeted air hubs covering over 25 states include the highest-volume locations across the US – including Atlanta, Charlotte, DEN, DFW, Florida destination, Los Angeles, MIA and Bay Area airport. Within major metropolitan areas – like New York, Houston and Chicago – several air terminals will be involved.

The trio of airports serving the Washington DC area – IAD, BWI Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington national – will be impacted, certainly generating flight disruptions for elected representatives as well as the flying public.

Other Developments

• Here’s the compilation of American air terminals reducing air travel on Friday as a result of federal government closure.
• A previous justice department staffer who hurled a sandwich at a federal agent during the administration's law enforcement presence in DC was found not guilty of assault by a DC jury on Thursday representing a recent legal setback of the federal involvement.
• Several liberal representatives interpreted Tuesday’s big electoral wins as proof 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.
• Democrats praised Nancy Pelosi as a “courageous, pioneering” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, following her statement that following two decades in Congress she plans to retire.
• The conservative leader, the director of the right-leaning policy organization behind Project 2025, has apologized for supporting Tucker Carlson’s interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to step down.