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With the historic federal government standoff stretches toward day 38, US airspace will become less congested. Contrastingly for US airports.

Precautionary Steps Implemented

The current administration's air traffic agency has said flights are being reduced to maintain air traffic control security during the federal government shutdown, setting a new duration record and with little indication of a agreement between conservative legislators and Democrats to end the federal budget deadlock.

Aviation authorities identified “congested corridors” where the FAA says air traffic must be reduced by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, an action that will compel airlines to cancel thousands of flights and create a series of scheduling complications and hold-ups at major US air terminals.

Official Statement

The federal transportation leader, Sean Duffy, wrote on online platforms Thursday that the decision was “not about politics” but rather “involving evaluation the data and reducing building risk in the system as air traffic professionals continue working without pay”.

“Air travel remains secure today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the proactive actions we are taking,” the official stated.

Flight Cancellations

Experts predict numerous potentially thousands of flights may be scrapped. The flight decreases could represent approximately 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats combined, according to an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The involved terminals spanning numerous states include the busiest ones across the US – including Georgia's capital, North Carolina's city, Colorado's hub, Texas metroplex, Orlando, Los Angeles, Miami and SFO. Within major metropolitan areas – such as NYC, Houston and Illinois hub – various airports will be involved.

All three airports serving the Washington DC area – Washington Dulles international, BWI and DCA – will be involved, certainly generating schedule changes for elected representatives as well as the flying public.

Other Developments

• Here’s the list of US airports cutting flights on Friday because of federal government closure.
• An ex-DOJ worker who threw a sandwich at a federal agent during the current law enforcement surge in Washington DC received a not guilty verdict of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal rebuke of the federal intervention.
• Some Democratic legislators interpreted Tuesday’s major voting successes as evidence they should hold the line and gain maximum concessions from Republicans before consenting to conclude the record-breaking budget standoff in history.
• Democrats praised Nancy Pelosi as a “bold, groundbreaking” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “most accomplished leader in American history”, after her announcement that after 20 terms in Congress she will leave office.
• The conservative leader, the leader of the political research group behind Project 2025, has apologized for backing Tucker Carlson’s interview with Hitler admirer Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to resign.