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With the unprecedented federal government standoff nears day 38, US airspace will become less congested. The same cannot be said for US air travel hubs.

Protective Actions Put in Place

The current administration's aviation regulatory body has said flight numbers are being lowered to maintain air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government closure, setting a new duration record and with no sign of a solution between Republicans and Democrats to end the federal budget deadlock.

Aviation authorities pinpointed “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic needs cutting by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, a move that would force airlines to call off thousands of journeys and create a cascade of scheduling issues and hold-ups at key American travel hubs.

Government Commentary

The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, commented on online platforms Thursday that the decision was “unrelated to political motives” but rather “about assessing the data and reducing growing safety concerns in the system as flight directors continue working without pay”.

“Flying is safe today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the proactive actions we are taking,” Duffy remarked.

Travel Disruptions

Specialists anticipate hundreds if not thousands of flights might be called off. The flight decreases could represent as many as 1,800 flights and more than 268,000 seats total, per an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The targeted air hubs including numerous states include the most trafficked across the US – including ATL, CLT, Colorado's hub, DFW, Florida destination, Los Angeles, Florida hotspot and San Francisco. Within major metropolitan areas – such as New York, Houston and Illinois hub – several air terminals will be affected.

Each of the three air terminals serving the Washington DC area – Washington Dulles international, Baltimore/Washington international and Reagan National – will be involved, inevitably causing flight disruptions for government officials as well as additional passengers.

Additional Developments

• Below is the list of US airports cutting flights on Friday because of federal government funding lapse.
• An ex-DOJ worker who hurled a sandwich at a federal agent during the current law enforcement surge in DC was found not guilty of assault by a DC jury on Thursday marking another legal rejection of the federal intervention.
• Certain Democratic lawmakers viewed Tuesday’s big electoral wins as evidence they should maintain their position and secure the best deal from Republicans before agreeing to end the longest government shutdown in history.
• Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “heroic, trailblazing” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “most accomplished leader in American history”, after her statement that after 20 terms in Congress she plans to retire.
• Kevin Roberts, the leader of the right-leaning policy organization behind the conservative initiative, has apologized for backing the commentator's interview with Hitler admirer Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to step down.