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Amid the unprecedented federal government closure stretches toward day 38, US airspace are set to become less congested. This doesn't apply for US terminals.

Protective Actions Enacted

The current administration's air traffic agency has said flight numbers are being lowered to maintain air traffic control safety during the federal government shutdown, now the longest recorded and with no sign of a agreement between conservative legislators and Democrats to end the federal budget impasse.

Airline regulators identified “congested corridors” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, an action that will compel airlines to call off thousands of journeys and create a series of scheduling problems and hold-ups at major US air terminals.

Administration Remarks

The federal transportation leader, Sean Duffy, commented on social media Thursday that the action 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”.

“Air travel remains secure today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the preventive measures we are taking,” he added.

Flight Cancellations

Analysts forecast hundreds if not thousands of flights could be canceled. The flight decreases might account for approximately 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats total, per an calculation by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Impacted Locations

The affected airports including more than two dozen states include the highest-volume locations across the US – including Atlanta, Charlotte, Colorado's hub, Dallas/Fort Worth, MCO, California gateway, Miami and SFO. In some of the biggest cities – including New York, Texas city and Illinois hub – several air terminals will be involved.

The trio of airports operating in the DC metro – Dulles Airport, BWI and DCA – will be impacted, inevitably causing schedule changes for government officials as well as other travelers.

Other Developments

• This is the list of US airports decreasing flights on Friday as a result of federal government shutdown.
• An ex-DOJ worker who tossed food at a federal agent during Donald Trump’s law enforcement presence in DC was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal setback of the federal action.
• Some Democratic legislators saw Tuesday’s big electoral wins as evidence they should hold the line and extract as much as possible from Republicans before consenting to conclude the record-breaking budget standoff in history.
• Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “bold, groundbreaking” member of the US House of Representatives, an “symbol” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, after her statement that following two decades in Congress she plans to retire.
• The thinktank head, the chief of the political research group behind Project 2025, expressed regret for endorsing the host's interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to leave his position.