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With the record-breaking federal government closure stretches toward day 38, US airspace will become a little less busy. The same cannot be said for US terminals.

Precautionary Steps Enacted

The current administration's air traffic agency announced flights are being reduced to uphold air traffic control security during the federal government closure, currently the lengthiest in history and with no sign of a resolution between GOP lawmakers and Democratic representatives to end the federal budget standoff.

Airline regulators pinpointed “busiest routes” where the FAA says air traffic needs cutting by 4% by 6 a.m. Eastern on Friday, an action that will compel airlines to call off thousands of journeys and trigger a cascade of scheduling complications and delays at some of the nation’s largest airports.

Official Statement

The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, stated on X Thursday that the move was “not about politics” but rather “about assessing the data and alleviating growing safety concerns in the system as controllers continue working without pay”.

“Flying is safe today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the preventive measures we are taking,” the official remarked.

Airline Cutbacks

Analysts forecast hundreds or even thousands of flights could be canceled. The flight decreases may constitute up to 1,800 flights and more than 268,000 seats total, according to an calculation by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Targeted Terminals

The affected airports covering more than two dozen states include the busiest ones across the US – featuring ATL, CLT, Denver, Texas metroplex, MCO, LAX, MIA and Bay Area airport. Within major metropolitan areas – such as NYC, Houston and Chicago – various airports will be impacted.

The trio of airports operating in the nation's capital region – IAD, Baltimore/Washington international and Reagan National – will be affected, certainly generating flight disruptions for government officials as well as additional passengers.

Additional Developments

• This is the roster of domestic airports decreasing flights on Friday as a result of federal government shutdown.
• An ex-DOJ worker who hurled a sandwich at a federal officer during Donald Trump’s law enforcement increase in the capital received a not guilty verdict of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal rejection of the federal action.
• Some Democratic legislators saw Tuesday’s big electoral wins as evidence they should stand firm and gain maximum concessions from conservative lawmakers before approving the termination of the longest government shutdown in history.
• Democrats praised Nancy Pelosi as a “heroic, trailblazing” member of the US House of Representatives, an “symbol” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, subsequent to her statement that after 20 terms in Congress she plans to retire.
• Kevin Roberts, the chief of the political research group behind the policy blueprint, issued an apology for endorsing the host's interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is resisting calls to resign.