🔗 Share this article Federal Authorities Reduces US Flights as Government Closure Stretches On Amid the historic federal government shutdown approaches day 38, US flight paths will become a little less busy. This doesn't apply for US airports. Safety Measures Enacted The current administration's air traffic agency announced flight numbers are being lowered to ensure air traffic control security during the federal government closure, now the longest recorded and with no sign of a resolution between Republicans and liberal officials to end the federal budget impasse. Aviation authorities selected “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic must be reduced by 4% by early morning Eastern Time on Friday, a step requiring airlines to scrub numerous flights and trigger a cascade of scheduling complications and delays at major US air terminals. Official Statement The federal transportation leader, Sean Duffy, wrote on social media Thursday that the action was “not about politics” but rather “about assessing the data and mitigating accumulating danger in the system as air traffic professionals continue working without pay”. “Flying is safe today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the preventive measures we are taking,” he added. Flight Cancellations Analysts forecast hundreds or even thousands of flights could be canceled. The cuts might account for up to 1,800 flights and more than 268,000 seats total, based on an estimate by the aviation analytics firm Cirium. Affected Airports The affected airports spanning over 25 states include the highest-volume locations across the US – such as ATL, Charlotte, DEN, Dallas/Fort Worth, MCO, California gateway, MIA and Bay Area airport. Among key urban centers – like NYC, Houston and Illinois hub – multiple airports will be impacted. All three airports serving the DC metro – IAD, BWI Airport and Reagan National – will be involved, certainly generating flight disruptions for lawmakers as well as other travelers. Additional Developments This is the list of US airports cutting flights on Friday because of federal government shutdown. An ex-DOJ worker who threw a sandwich at a government officer during the current law enforcement increase in the capital was found not guilty of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal setback of the federal action. Some Democratic legislators viewed Tuesday’s big electoral wins as indication they should hold the line and extract as much as possible from conservative lawmakers 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 declaration that following two decades in Congress she plans to retire. The thinktank head, the director of the political research group behind the conservative initiative, issued an apology for endorsing Tucker Carlson’s interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to leave his position.