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With the historic federal government shutdown nears day 38, US airspace are set to become a little less busy. Contrastingly for US air travel hubs.

Protective Actions Put in Place

The federal aviation regulatory body announced flight numbers are being lowered to ensure air traffic control security during the federal government closure, now the longest recorded and with no sign of a solution between GOP lawmakers and Democrats to end the federal budget deadlock.

Airline regulators selected “congested corridors” 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 call off thousands of journeys and create a cascade of scheduling problems and hold-ups at some of the nation’s largest airports.

Government Commentary

The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, wrote on online platforms Thursday that the move was “not politically driven” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and alleviating building risk in the system as controllers continue working without pay”.

“Flying is safe today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the forward-thinking steps we are taking,” Duffy remarked.

Travel Disruptions

Experts predict hundreds if not thousands of flights may be scrapped. These reductions could represent as many as 1,800 flights and more than 268,000 seats total, according to an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Impacted Locations

The affected airports including over 25 states include the busiest ones across the US – such as Georgia's capital, CLT, DEN, Texas metroplex, Orlando, California gateway, Florida hotspot and San Francisco. Among key urban centers – such as New York, Houston and Chicago – various airports will be affected.

Each of the three air terminals serving the nation's capital region – Washington Dulles international, BWI and Reagan National – will be impacted, certainly generating flight disruptions for elected representatives as well as other travelers.

Related Updates

• Here’s the list of US airports decreasing flights on Friday due to federal government shutdown.
• A previous justice department staffer who threw a sandwich at a federal agent during the current law enforcement surge in DC was found not guilty of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal rebuke of the federal action.
• Several liberal representatives interpreted Tuesday’s major voting successes as indication they should stand firm and secure the best deal from Republicans before consenting to conclude the longest government shutdown in history.
• Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “courageous, pioneering” member of the US House of Representatives, an “icon” and the “finest presiding officer in American history”, after her announcement that following two decades in Congress she will leave office.
• The thinktank head, the director of the right-leaning policy organization behind Project 2025, expressed regret for backing the commentator's interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to leave his position.