Government Cuts Back US Air Travel as Government Closure Continues

As the record-breaking federal government shutdown stretches toward day 38, US skies are set to become less congested. The same cannot be said for US airports.

Protective Actions Enacted

The federal aviation regulatory body has said flights are being reduced to uphold air traffic control safety during the federal government closure, now the longest recorded and with no sign of a agreement between Republicans and Democrats to end the federal budget standoff.

Airline regulators pinpointed “busiest routes” where the FAA says air traffic needs cutting by 4% by early morning Eastern Time on Friday, an action that will compel airlines to call off thousands of journeys and create a series of scheduling complications and setbacks at key American travel hubs.

Administration Remarks

Trump’s transportation chief, Sean Duffy, stated on online platforms Thursday that the decision was “not politically driven” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and alleviating growing safety concerns in the system as air traffic professionals continue working without pay”.

“Flying is safe today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the preventive measures we are taking,” the official remarked.

Airline Cutbacks

Experts predict hundreds or even thousands of flights may be scrapped. The cuts may constitute as many as 1,800 flights and more than 268,000 seats total, per an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Targeted Terminals

The affected airports covering over 25 states include the most trafficked across the US – including ATL, CLT, Denver, Texas metroplex, Florida destination, LAX, Miami and San Francisco. Within major metropolitan areas – like NYC, Texas city and Chicago – several air terminals will be involved.

Each of the three air terminals serving the Washington DC area – Dulles Airport, BWI and Reagan National – will be affected, certainly generating schedule changes for government officials as well as other travelers.

Additional Developments

• Here’s the compilation of American air terminals cutting flights on Friday because of federal government funding lapse.
• A former Department of Justice employee who threw a sandwich at a federal agent during the current law enforcement surge in the capital 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 viewed Tuesday’s major voting successes as indication they should maintain their position and extract as much as possible from conservative lawmakers before agreeing to end the longest government shutdown in history.
• Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “heroic, trailblazing” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “finest presiding officer in American history”, subsequent to her declaration that post twenty congressional sessions in Congress she will leave office.
• The conservative leader, the chief of the right-leaning policy organization behind the conservative initiative, expressed regret for backing the commentator's interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to leave his position.