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Amid the unprecedented federal government shutdown approaches day 38, US flight paths are set to become somewhat quieter. Contrastingly for US terminals.

Precautionary Steps Put in Place

Donald Trump’s air traffic agency has said air travel is being curtailed to ensure air traffic control safety during the federal government closure, 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.

Airline regulators selected “congested corridors” where the FAA says air traffic must be reduced by 4% by early morning Eastern Time on Friday, an action that will compel airlines to scrub numerous flights and cause a cascade of scheduling complications and setbacks at some of the nation’s largest airports.

Official Statement

The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, commented on social media Thursday that the action was “not about politics” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and alleviating growing safety concerns in the system as controllers continue working without pay”.

“It’s safe to fly today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the forward-thinking steps we are taking,” the official added.

Airline Cutbacks

Experts predict hundreds or even thousands of flights may be scrapped. These reductions might account for approximately 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats combined, based on an calculation by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Targeted Terminals

The affected airports covering over 25 states include the highest-volume locations across the US – including Georgia's capital, North Carolina's city, DEN, Texas metroplex, MCO, LAX, MIA and San Francisco. In some of the biggest cities – including New York, Houston and Chicago – various airports will be involved.

Each of the three air terminals operating in the DC metro – IAD, Baltimore/Washington international and Ronald Reagan Washington national – will be impacted, inevitably causing flight disruptions for lawmakers as well as other travelers.

Additional Developments

• Below is the list of US airports reducing air travel on Friday because of federal government shutdown.
• A former Department of Justice employee who hurled a sandwich at a government officer during the administration's law enforcement surge in DC was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday marking another legal rebuke of the federal action.
• Some Democratic legislators interpreted Tuesday’s major voting successes as evidence they should stand firm and gain maximum concessions from conservative lawmakers before agreeing to end the longest government shutdown in history.
• Democrats praised Nancy Pelosi as a “courageous, pioneering” member of the US House of Representatives, an “icon” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, following her announcement that post twenty congressional sessions in Congress she will leave office.
• The thinktank head, the chief of the political research group behind the policy blueprint, issued an apology for supporting Tucker Carlson’s interview with Hitler admirer Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to leave his position.