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Amid the record-breaking federal government standoff approaches day 38, US flight paths is about to get somewhat quieter. The same cannot be said for US terminals.

Safety Measures Enacted

Donald Trump’s air traffic agency stated flights are being reduced to uphold air traffic control safety during the federal government shutdown, now the longest recorded and with no apparent progress of a agreement between Republicans and Democrats to end the federal budget impasse.

Airline regulators identified “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic needs cutting by 4% by 6 a.m. Eastern on Friday, an action that will compel airlines to cancel thousands of flights and trigger a cascade of scheduling issues and setbacks at major US air terminals.

Official Statement

The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, wrote on social media Thursday that the move was “unrelated to political motives” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and mitigating accumulating danger in the system as flight directors continue working without pay”.

“Air travel remains secure today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the preventive measures we are taking,” he remarked.

Travel Disruptions

Analysts forecast hundreds or even thousands of flights may be scrapped. The flight decreases could represent up to 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats combined, based on an estimate by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Impacted Locations

The affected airports including more than two dozen states include the busiest ones across the US – including Atlanta, North Carolina's city, Denver, DFW, MCO, LAX, MIA and San Francisco. Among key urban centers – such as New York, Texas city and Illinois hub – multiple airports will be affected.

Each of the three air terminals operating in the DC metro – Washington Dulles international, BWI Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington national – will be involved, likely creating schedule changes for government officials as well as additional passengers.

Additional Developments

• Here’s the roster of domestic airports cutting flights on Friday as a result of federal government shutdown.
• An ex-DOJ worker who threw a sandwich at a federal officer during Donald Trump’s law enforcement presence in DC was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday representing a recent legal rejection of the federal involvement.
• Some Democratic legislators interpreted Tuesday’s big electoral wins as evidence they should hold the line and gain maximum concessions from GOP members before agreeing to end the lengthiest federal closure in history.
• Liberal lawmakers commended Nancy Pelosi as a “courageous, pioneering” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “most accomplished leader in American history”, after her declaration that after 20 terms in Congress she will leave office.
• The conservative leader, the chief of the conservative thinktank behind the conservative initiative, issued an apology for backing Tucker Carlson’s interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is resisting calls to leave his position.