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With the record-breaking federal government shutdown stretches toward day 38, US flight paths is about to get a little less busy. Contrastingly for US air travel hubs.

Safety Measures Enacted

The current administration's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said air travel is being curtailed to ensure air traffic control safety during the federal government shutdown, setting a new duration record and with no sign of a solution between conservative legislators and liberal officials to end the federal budget standoff.

Flight oversight bodies selected “busiest routes” where the FAA says air traffic must be reduced by 4% by 6 a.m. Eastern on Friday, an action that will compel airlines to scrub numerous flights and trigger a chain reaction of scheduling problems and delays at key American travel hubs.

Official Statement

Trump’s transportation chief, Sean Duffy, wrote on X Thursday that the action was “unrelated to political motives” but rather “about assessing the data and mitigating growing safety concerns in the system as air traffic professionals continue working without pay”.

“It’s safe to fly today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the proactive actions we are taking,” the official stated.

Flight Cancellations

Specialists anticipate hundreds or even thousands of flights may be scrapped. The cuts could represent as many as 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats combined, according to an calculation by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Targeted Terminals

The affected airports covering numerous states include the highest-volume locations across the US – including Georgia's capital, CLT, Colorado's hub, Dallas/Fort Worth, Orlando, Los Angeles, MIA and SFO. Among key urban centers – such as New York, Houston and Illinois hub – multiple airports will be involved.

The trio of airports serving the Washington DC area – IAD, Baltimore/Washington international and DCA – will be affected, certainly generating schedule changes for government officials as well as other travelers.

Other Developments

• Below is the list of US airports reducing air travel on Friday as a result of federal government closure.
• A former Department of Justice employee who tossed food at a government officer during the administration's law enforcement presence in the capital was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday marking another legal rebuke of the federal involvement.
• Certain Democratic lawmakers saw Tuesday’s significant election victories as proof they should stand firm and gain maximum concessions from conservative lawmakers before approving the termination of the lengthiest federal closure in history.
• Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “bold, groundbreaking” member of the US House of Representatives, an “symbol” and the “most accomplished leader in American history”, following her declaration that following two decades in Congress she intends to step down.
• The conservative leader, the chief of the conservative thinktank behind Project 2025, expressed regret for backing the commentator's interview with Hitler admirer Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to step down.