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With the unprecedented federal government standoff approaches day 38, US skies is about to get less congested. Contrastingly for US air travel hubs.

Precautionary Steps Implemented

The current administration's air traffic agency has said flight numbers are being lowered to maintain air traffic control safety during the federal government shutdown, currently the lengthiest in history and with no apparent progress of a agreement between conservative legislators and Democratic representatives to end the federal budget deadlock.

Aviation authorities identified “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic must be reduced by 4% by 6 a.m. Eastern on Friday, an action that will compel airlines to scrub numerous flights and cause a cascade of scheduling complications and hold-ups at key American travel hubs.

Government Commentary

Trump’s transportation chief, Sean Duffy, wrote on X Thursday that the move was “unrelated to political motives” but rather “involving evaluation the data and alleviating building risk in the system as controllers continue working without pay”.

“Air travel remains secure today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the forward-thinking steps we are taking,” the official added.

Travel Disruptions

Experts predict hundreds if not thousands of flights may be scrapped. The cuts could represent as many as 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats collectively, according to an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Impacted Locations

The targeted air hubs covering numerous states include the most trafficked across the US – such as Georgia's capital, CLT, DEN, DFW, MCO, LAX, Florida hotspot and Bay Area airport. Among key urban centers – such as New York, Houston and Illinois hub – multiple airports will be impacted.

The trio of airports operating in the DC metro – Washington Dulles international, Baltimore/Washington international and Ronald Reagan Washington national – will be impacted, certainly generating schedule changes for government officials as well as other travelers.

Other Developments

• Below is the compilation of American air terminals decreasing flights on Friday due to federal government funding lapse.
• An ex-DOJ worker who threw a sandwich at a government officer during Donald Trump’s law enforcement increase in Washington DC was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal rebuke of the federal intervention.
• Several liberal representatives interpreted Tuesday’s big electoral wins as indication they should stand firm and secure the best deal from conservative lawmakers before agreeing to end the longest government shutdown in history.
• Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “bold, groundbreaking” member of the US House of Representatives, an “icon” and the “finest presiding officer in American history”, after her declaration that after 20 terms in Congress she will leave office.
• The thinktank head, the director of the political research group behind Project 2025, has apologized for endorsing the commentator's interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to step down.