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Amid the historic federal government shutdown nears day 38, US airspace will become a little less busy. Contrastingly for US airports.

Safety Measures Enacted

The federal air traffic agency announced flights are being reduced to maintain air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government closure, setting a new duration record and with little indication of a solution between GOP lawmakers and Democratic representatives to end the federal budget deadlock.

Aviation authorities selected “busiest routes” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by 6 a.m. Eastern on Friday, a step requiring airlines to call off thousands of journeys and create a chain reaction of scheduling complications and hold-ups at some of the nation’s largest airports.

Government Commentary

The federal transportation leader, Sean Duffy, commented on X Thursday that the decision was “unrelated to political motives” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and alleviating growing safety concerns 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 remarked.

Travel Disruptions

Specialists anticipate hundreds or even thousands of flights may be scrapped. These reductions could represent approximately 1,800 flights and more than 268,000 seats collectively, per an estimate by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Targeted Terminals

The involved terminals spanning more than two dozen states include the highest-volume locations across the US – such as ATL, CLT, Colorado's hub, DFW, MCO, California gateway, MIA and San Francisco. In some of the biggest cities – like NYC, Texas city and Chicago – several air terminals will be involved.

All three airports serving the nation's capital region – IAD, Baltimore/Washington international and Reagan National – will be involved, certainly generating flight disruptions for elected representatives as well as additional passengers.

Other Developments

• This is the list of US airports decreasing flights on Friday because of federal government shutdown.
• A former Department of Justice employee who hurled a sandwich at a federal officer during the current law enforcement surge in the capital received a not guilty verdict of assault by a DC jury on Thursday representing a recent legal setback of the federal intervention.
• Several liberal representatives viewed Tuesday’s significant election victories as proof they should maintain their position and extract as much as possible from Republicans before consenting to conclude the longest government shutdown in history.
• Liberal lawmakers commended Nancy Pelosi as a “heroic, trailblazing” member of the US House of Representatives, an “symbol” and the “finest presiding officer in American history”, after her declaration that following two decades in Congress she plans to retire.
• The thinktank head, the leader of the political research group behind Project 2025, issued an apology for backing the host's interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to step down.