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With the record-breaking federal government closure nears day 38, US flight paths will become less congested. This doesn't apply for US terminals.

Protective Actions Implemented

Donald Trump’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated flight numbers are being lowered to uphold air traffic control safety during the federal government funding lapse, currently the lengthiest in history and with no apparent progress of a solution between conservative legislators and Democratic representatives to end the federal budget impasse.

Flight oversight bodies pinpointed “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic must be reduced by 4% by early morning Eastern Time on Friday, a move that would force airlines to scrub numerous flights and create a series of scheduling problems and delays at major US air terminals.

Government Commentary

The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, wrote on online platforms Thursday that the decision was “not about politics” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and mitigating building risk in the system as flight directors continue working without pay”.

“Flying is safe today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the preventive measures we are taking,” he stated.

Airline Cutbacks

Analysts forecast hundreds if not thousands of flights could be canceled. The cuts might account for approximately 1,800 flights and more than 268,000 seats total, based on an calculation by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Impacted Locations

The affected airports covering numerous states include the busiest ones across the US – such as Georgia's capital, CLT, Colorado's hub, Dallas/Fort Worth, Florida destination, LAX, Miami and San Francisco. Among key urban centers – such as NYC, Houston and Chicago – several air terminals will be affected.

Each of the three air terminals operating in the Washington DC area – IAD, BWI Airport and DCA – will be affected, inevitably causing schedule changes for elected representatives as well as additional passengers.

Additional Developments

• Here’s the roster of domestic airports cutting flights on Friday as a result of federal government funding lapse.
• A former Department of Justice employee who hurled a sandwich at a federal agent 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 rejection of the federal involvement.
• Some Democratic legislators interpreted Tuesday’s major voting successes as proof they should stand firm and gain maximum concessions from conservative lawmakers before consenting to conclude the longest government shutdown in history.
• Democrats praised Nancy Pelosi as a “heroic, trailblazing” member of the US House of Representatives, an “icon” and the “finest presiding officer in American history”, after her declaration that following two decades in Congress she intends to step down.
• The thinktank head, the leader of the right-leaning policy organization behind the conservative initiative, has apologized for endorsing Tucker Carlson’s interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to resign.