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Amid the historic federal government standoff nears day 38, US airspace will become somewhat quieter. Contrastingly for US air travel hubs.

Safety Measures Enacted

The federal Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated air travel is being curtailed to uphold air traffic control safety during the federal government shutdown, now the longest recorded and with no apparent progress of a agreement between GOP lawmakers and liberal officials to end the federal budget deadlock.

Aviation authorities identified “busiest routes” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, a move that would force airlines to scrub numerous flights and create a series of scheduling issues and setbacks at key American travel hubs.

Official Statement

Trump’s transportation chief, Sean Duffy, stated on X Thursday that the decision was “not politically driven” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and alleviating building risk in the system as flight directors continue working without pay”.

“Air travel remains secure today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the forward-thinking steps we are taking,” the official stated.

Flight Cancellations

Analysts forecast hundreds or even thousands of flights may be scrapped. The flight decreases may constitute as many as 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats collectively, per an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The affected airports covering more than two dozen states include the highest-volume locations across the US – such as Georgia's capital, CLT, Colorado's hub, DFW, MCO, California gateway, Miami and SFO. In some of the biggest cities – like NYC, Houston and Illinois hub – several air terminals will be affected.

The trio of airports operating in the nation's capital region – Washington Dulles international, BWI Airport and Reagan National – will be affected, certainly generating schedule changes for elected representatives as well as additional passengers.

Other Developments

• Below is the compilation of American air terminals cutting flights on Friday due to federal government closure.
• A previous justice department staffer who hurled a sandwich at a federal officer 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 action.
• Some Democratic legislators interpreted Tuesday’s significant election victories as proof they should stand firm and secure the best deal from GOP members before consenting to conclude the record-breaking budget standoff in history.
• Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “bold, groundbreaking” member of the US House of Representatives, an “symbol” and the “finest presiding officer in American history”, after her declaration that following two decades in Congress she intends to step down.
• The thinktank head, the leader of the political research group behind the conservative initiative, expressed regret for supporting Tucker Carlson’s interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to leave his position.