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As the historic federal government standoff approaches day 38, US airspace is about to get a little less busy. The same cannot be said for US air travel hubs.

Safety Measures Enacted

Donald Trump’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced air travel is being curtailed to ensure air traffic control security during the federal government funding lapse, setting a new duration record and with little indication of a solution between Republicans and liberal officials to end the federal budget standoff.

Aviation authorities selected “busiest routes” where the FAA says air traffic needs cutting by 4% by 6 a.m. Eastern on Friday, a move that would force airlines to cancel thousands of flights and cause a series of scheduling complications and hold-ups at some of the nation’s largest airports.

Government Commentary

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 forward-thinking steps we are taking,” Duffy added.

Travel Disruptions

Experts predict hundreds or even thousands of flights may be scrapped. These reductions may constitute as many as 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 spanning over 25 states include the busiest ones across the US – such as Georgia's capital, North Carolina's city, DEN, Dallas/Fort Worth, MCO, LAX, Florida hotspot and SFO. Among key urban centers – such as NYC, Houston and Chicago – various airports will be impacted.

The trio of airports serving the nation's capital region – Washington Dulles international, Baltimore/Washington international and DCA – will be impacted, inevitably causing delays and cancellations for lawmakers as well as additional passengers.

Additional Developments

• Below is the compilation of American air terminals reducing air travel on Friday because of federal government shutdown.
• An ex-DOJ worker who hurled a sandwich at a federal officer during the administration's law enforcement increase in Washington DC received a not guilty verdict of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal rejection of the federal intervention.
• Certain Democratic lawmakers interpreted Tuesday’s major voting successes as indication they should maintain their position and secure the best deal 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 “finest presiding officer in American history”, after her statement that post twenty congressional sessions in Congress she intends to step down.
• Kevin Roberts, the chief of the conservative thinktank behind the policy blueprint, expressed regret for endorsing the commentator's interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to leave his position.