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Amid the record-breaking federal government closure stretches toward day 38, US skies are set to become less congested. The same cannot be said for US airports.

Protective Actions Implemented

Donald Trump’s aviation regulatory body has said flights are being reduced to ensure air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government shutdown, currently the lengthiest in history and with no sign of a agreement between GOP lawmakers and Democrats to end the federal budget deadlock.

Aviation authorities identified “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, an action that will compel airlines to scrub numerous flights and trigger a chain reaction of scheduling issues and setbacks at major US air terminals.

Government Commentary

The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, commented on online platforms Thursday that the decision was “unrelated to political motives” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and mitigating accumulating danger in the system as controllers continue working without pay”.

“It’s safe to fly today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the preventive measures we are taking,” the official remarked.

Travel Disruptions

Specialists anticipate hundreds or even thousands of flights might be called off. The flight decreases may constitute as many as 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats total, based on an estimate by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Impacted Locations

The targeted air hubs covering numerous states include the busiest ones across the US – featuring Atlanta, North Carolina's city, Colorado's hub, DFW, Orlando, California gateway, Miami and San Francisco. Among key urban centers – including NYC, Texas city and Illinois hub – several air terminals will be impacted.

Each of the three air terminals serving the DC metro – IAD, BWI Airport and DCA – will be impacted, likely creating delays and cancellations for lawmakers as well as additional passengers.

Other Developments

• Here’s the list of US airports reducing air travel on Friday because of federal government shutdown.
• A previous justice department staffer who hurled a sandwich at a government officer during the administration's law enforcement increase in the capital was found not guilty of assault by a DC jury on Thursday representing a recent legal setback of the federal involvement.
• Certain Democratic lawmakers viewed Tuesday’s major voting successes as proof they should hold the line and extract as much as possible from conservative lawmakers before agreeing to end the lengthiest federal closure in history.
• Liberal lawmakers commended Nancy Pelosi as a “bold, groundbreaking” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “finest presiding officer in American history”, following her statement that after 20 terms in Congress she plans to retire.
• The thinktank head, the director of the conservative thinktank behind the conservative initiative, expressed regret for endorsing the commentator's interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to leave his position.