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As the unprecedented federal government standoff approaches day 38, US flight paths is about to get less congested. This doesn't apply for US air travel hubs.

Protective Actions Put in Place

The federal Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated flights are being reduced to uphold air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government closure, now the longest recorded and with no apparent progress of a resolution between GOP lawmakers and Democratic representatives to end the federal budget standoff.

Flight oversight bodies identified “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic needs cutting by 4% by early morning Eastern Time on Friday, a step requiring airlines to cancel thousands of flights and create a chain reaction of scheduling issues and delays at some of the nation’s largest airports.

Government Commentary

Trump’s transportation chief, Sean Duffy, stated on social media Thursday that the action was “not about politics” but rather “about assessing the data and mitigating accumulating danger in the system as controllers continue working without pay”.

“It’s safe to fly today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the preventive measures we are taking,” the official remarked.

Travel Disruptions

Analysts forecast hundreds if not thousands of flights might be called off. The flight decreases might account for up to 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats total, per an estimate by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The affected airports covering over 25 states include the busiest ones across the US – including Atlanta, CLT, Denver, DFW, Orlando, Los Angeles, Florida hotspot and Bay Area airport. Among key urban centers – like New York, Texas city and Illinois hub – several air terminals will be involved.

Each of the three air terminals serving the nation's capital region – Washington Dulles international, Baltimore/Washington international and Ronald Reagan Washington national – will be affected, certainly generating schedule changes for elected representatives as well as the flying public.

Related Updates

• Here’s the roster of domestic airports decreasing flights on Friday due to federal government funding lapse.
• A previous justice department staffer who hurled a sandwich at a government officer during the administration's law enforcement presence in DC was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal rebuke of the federal action.
• Certain Democratic lawmakers interpreted Tuesday’s big electoral wins as proof they should maintain their position and secure the best deal from Republicans before consenting to conclude the longest government shutdown in history.
• Democrats praised Nancy Pelosi as a “heroic, trailblazing” member of the US House of Representatives, an “icon” and the “most accomplished leader in American history”, subsequent to her statement that post twenty congressional sessions in Congress she will leave office.
• Kevin Roberts, the director of the conservative thinktank behind the conservative initiative, has apologized for supporting the commentator's interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to step down.