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As the unprecedented federal government closure approaches day 38, US skies is about to get less congested. This doesn't apply for US terminals.

Safety Measures Put in Place

Donald Trump’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said air travel is being curtailed to ensure air traffic control safety during the federal government funding lapse, now the longest recorded and with no apparent progress of a agreement between conservative legislators and Democrats to end the federal budget deadlock.

Airline regulators identified “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic needs cutting by 4% by 6 a.m. Eastern on Friday, a step requiring airlines to call off thousands of journeys and cause a cascade of scheduling issues and hold-ups at major US air terminals.

Official Statement

The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, wrote on social media Thursday that the action was “not politically driven” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and reducing 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 numerous potentially thousands of flights could be canceled. The flight decreases may constitute as many as 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats combined, according to an estimate by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Targeted Terminals

The targeted air hubs including numerous states include the highest-volume locations across the US – such as Atlanta, North Carolina's city, Colorado's hub, Dallas/Fort Worth, Orlando, LAX, MIA and Bay Area airport. Among key urban centers – such as NYC, Texas city and Chicago – various airports will be impacted.

The trio of airports operating in the Washington DC area – IAD, Baltimore/Washington international and Ronald Reagan Washington national – will be affected, likely creating flight disruptions for elected representatives as well as additional passengers.

Other Developments

• This is the list of US airports cutting flights on Friday because of federal government shutdown.
• A former Department of Justice employee who hurled a sandwich at a government officer during the current law enforcement surge in Washington DC was found not guilty of assault by a DC jury on Thursday representing a recent legal rebuke of the federal action.
• Some Democratic legislators saw Tuesday’s significant election victories as evidence they should maintain their position and gain maximum concessions from conservative lawmakers before consenting to conclude the lengthiest federal closure in history.
• Liberal lawmakers commended Nancy Pelosi as a “courageous, pioneering” member of the US House of Representatives, an “symbol” and the “most accomplished leader in American history”, after her announcement that following two decades in Congress she will leave office.
• Kevin Roberts, the leader of the political research group behind the conservative initiative, has apologized for supporting Tucker Carlson’s interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to leave his position.