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As the historic federal government standoff nears day 38, US skies is about to get somewhat quieter. The same cannot be said for US airports.

Safety Measures Enacted

The federal air traffic agency stated flight numbers are being lowered to uphold air traffic control safety during the federal government closure, now the longest recorded and with little indication of a agreement between conservative legislators and liberal officials to end the federal budget standoff.

Aviation authorities pinpointed “busiest routes” 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 trigger a cascade of scheduling complications and hold-ups at major US air terminals.

Official Statement

Trump’s transportation chief, Sean Duffy, stated on X Thursday that the action was “unrelated to political motives” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and alleviating building risk in the system as air traffic professionals continue working without pay”.

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

Travel Disruptions

Specialists anticipate hundreds or even thousands of flights may be scrapped. The cuts might account for approximately 1,800 flights and more than 268,000 seats total, based on an estimate by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Targeted Terminals

The involved terminals covering over 25 states include the most trafficked across the US – including Georgia's capital, CLT, Denver, Dallas/Fort Worth, Florida destination, LAX, MIA and SFO. Within major metropolitan areas – such as New York, Houston and Chicago – multiple airports will be involved.

All three airports serving the DC metro – Dulles Airport, BWI Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington national – will be involved, certainly generating flight disruptions for elected representatives as well as other travelers.

Additional Developments

• This is the list of US airports reducing air travel on Friday due to federal government shutdown.
• A former Department of Justice employee who threw a sandwich at a federal agent during the administration's law enforcement presence in Washington DC was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday marking another legal rebuke of the federal intervention.
• Several liberal representatives viewed Tuesday’s big electoral wins as proof they should maintain their position and gain maximum concessions 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 “icon” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, after her announcement that following two decades in Congress she plans to retire.
• Kevin Roberts, the chief of the conservative thinktank behind the policy blueprint, has apologized for backing the commentator's interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is resisting calls to step down.