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With the record-breaking federal government standoff nears day 38, US airspace are set to become somewhat quieter. This doesn't apply for US air travel hubs.

Precautionary Steps Enacted

The current administration's aviation regulatory body stated air travel is being curtailed to uphold air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government funding lapse, now the longest recorded and with no sign of a solution 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 X Thursday that the move was “not politically driven” but rather “involving evaluation the data and mitigating 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,” Duffy stated.

Travel Disruptions

Analysts forecast numerous potentially thousands of flights could be canceled. These reductions could represent as many as 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats combined, according to an estimate by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The targeted air hubs including over 25 states include the highest-volume locations across the US – featuring Georgia's capital, Charlotte, Colorado's hub, Texas metroplex, Orlando, California gateway, Florida hotspot and Bay Area airport. In some of the biggest cities – like NYC, Houston and Chicago – several air terminals will be affected.

Each of the three air terminals operating in the Washington DC area – Washington Dulles international, Baltimore/Washington international and Reagan National – will be impacted, certainly generating flight disruptions for lawmakers as well as other travelers.

Additional Developments

• Below is the roster of domestic airports decreasing flights on Friday because of federal government shutdown.
• A previous justice department staffer who hurled a sandwich at a government officer during the current law enforcement increase in the capital received a not guilty verdict of assault by a DC jury on Thursday representing a recent legal setback of the federal involvement.
• Several liberal representatives saw Tuesday’s significant election victories as evidence they should maintain their position and gain maximum concessions from GOP members before agreeing to end the lengthiest federal closure in history.
• Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “heroic, trailblazing” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “finest presiding officer in American history”, subsequent to her statement that after 20 terms in Congress she plans to retire.
• Kevin Roberts, the leader of the political research group behind the conservative initiative, has apologized for backing the commentator's interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is resisting calls to step down.