🔗 Share this article Administration Cuts Back US Air Travel as Shutdown Stretches On As the record-breaking federal government closure nears day 38, US flight paths are set to become somewhat quieter. Contrastingly for US airports. Safety Measures Implemented Donald Trump’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said flight numbers are being lowered to uphold air traffic control safety during the federal government funding lapse, currently the lengthiest in history and with little indication of a agreement between GOP lawmakers and Democrats to end the federal budget impasse. Flight oversight bodies selected “busiest routes” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, an action that will compel airlines to call off thousands of journeys and trigger a series of scheduling problems and hold-ups at some of the nation’s largest airports. Government Commentary The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, commented on online platforms Thursday that the action was “unrelated to political motives” but rather “about assessing the data and alleviating accumulating danger in the system as air traffic professionals continue working without pay”. “It’s safe to fly today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the preventive measures we are taking,” he stated. Flight Cancellations Analysts forecast numerous potentially thousands of flights might be called off. These reductions may constitute approximately 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats total, per an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium. Impacted Locations The targeted air hubs spanning numerous states include the busiest ones across the US – including Atlanta, Charlotte, Denver, Dallas/Fort Worth, Orlando, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco. In some of the biggest cities – including NYC, Houston and Chicago – multiple airports will be involved. The trio of airports operating in the Washington DC area – Dulles Airport, BWI Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington national – will be impacted, inevitably causing delays and cancellations for government officials as well as other travelers. Additional Developments This is the list of US airports reducing air travel on Friday due to federal government closure. A previous justice department staffer who tossed food at a federal officer during Donald Trump’s law enforcement presence in Washington DC was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal setback of the federal action. Certain Democratic lawmakers viewed Tuesday’s major voting successes as evidence they should hold the line and gain maximum concessions from GOP members before approving the termination of 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 “greatest speaker in American history”, following her declaration that post twenty congressional sessions in Congress she will leave office. Kevin Roberts, the director of the political research group behind the conservative initiative, issued an apology for endorsing the host's interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to step down.