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With the unprecedented federal government closure approaches day 38, US airspace is about to get a little less busy. This doesn't apply for US airports.

Safety Measures Enacted

The current administration's air traffic agency stated air travel is being curtailed to maintain air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government funding lapse, now the longest recorded and with little indication of a resolution between GOP lawmakers and Democratic representatives to end the federal budget standoff.

Aviation authorities selected “congested corridors” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, an action that will compel airlines to call off thousands of journeys and trigger a cascade of scheduling issues and setbacks at some of the nation’s largest airports.

Government Commentary

Trump’s transportation chief, Sean Duffy, stated on social media Thursday that the move was “unrelated to political motives” but rather “about assessing the data and reducing 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 preventive measures we are taking,” Duffy added.

Flight Cancellations

Analysts forecast hundreds if not thousands of flights might be called off. The cuts could represent as many as 1,800 flights and more than 268,000 seats combined, per an estimate by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Impacted Locations

The affected airports including numerous states include the busiest ones across the US – such as ATL, Charlotte, DEN, DFW, MCO, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco. Within major metropolitan areas – like NYC, Texas city and Illinois hub – various airports will be affected.

Each of the three air terminals serving the nation's capital region – Dulles Airport, BWI Airport and Reagan National – will be involved, inevitably causing schedule changes for government officials as well as additional passengers.

Additional Developments

• Below is the list of US airports cutting flights on Friday due to federal government closure.
• A former Department of Justice employee who tossed food at a government officer during Donald Trump’s law enforcement increase in the capital was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal rejection of the federal involvement.
• Some Democratic legislators viewed Tuesday’s significant election victories as proof they should hold the line and secure the best deal from GOP members 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 “symbol” and the “most accomplished leader in American history”, subsequent to her statement that post twenty congressional sessions in Congress she will leave office.
• The thinktank head, the leader of the conservative thinktank behind Project 2025, issued an apology for supporting the host's interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to leave his position.