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As the historic federal government standoff stretches toward day 38, US flight paths will become somewhat quieter. This doesn't apply for US airports.

Safety Measures Enacted

Donald Trump’s aviation regulatory body has said flights are being reduced to maintain air traffic control safety during the federal government funding lapse, now the longest recorded and with no sign of a agreement between conservative legislators and liberal officials to end the federal budget impasse.

Airline regulators pinpointed “congested corridors” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, a move that would force airlines to scrub numerous flights and create a chain reaction of scheduling complications and setbacks at key American travel hubs.

Official Statement

The federal transportation leader, Sean Duffy, wrote on online platforms Thursday that the move was “unrelated to political motives” but rather “involving evaluation the data and alleviating building risk 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 forward-thinking steps we are taking,” Duffy added.

Airline Cutbacks

Specialists anticipate numerous potentially thousands of flights may be scrapped. The flight decreases may constitute as many as 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats combined, per an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The affected airports covering over 25 states include the highest-volume locations across the US – such as Atlanta, North Carolina's city, DEN, DFW, Orlando, LAX, MIA and Bay Area airport. In some of the biggest cities – such as NYC, Houston and Illinois hub – several air terminals will be affected.

All three airports serving the DC metro – Washington Dulles international, Baltimore/Washington international and Reagan National – will be impacted, certainly generating delays and cancellations for government officials as well as additional passengers.

Additional Developments

• This is the roster of domestic airports reducing air travel on Friday due to federal government closure.
• An ex-DOJ worker who threw a sandwich at a government officer during the administration's law enforcement presence in Washington DC was found not guilty of assault by a DC jury on Thursday marking another legal setback of the federal involvement.
• Some Democratic legislators interpreted Tuesday’s significant election victories as proof they should maintain their position and gain maximum concessions from Republicans before agreeing to end the longest government shutdown in history.
• Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “courageous, pioneering” member of the US House of Representatives, an “symbol” and the “finest presiding officer in American history”, subsequent to her announcement that after 20 terms in Congress she will leave office.
• Kevin Roberts, the leader of the right-leaning policy organization behind the policy blueprint, issued an apology for backing the host's interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to leave his position.