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With the historic federal government standoff approaches day 38, US airspace will become somewhat quieter. This doesn't apply for US airports.

Protective Actions Enacted

Donald Trump’s aviation regulatory body has said flight numbers are being lowered to ensure air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government shutdown, setting a new duration record and with no apparent progress of a solution between Republicans and Democrats to end the federal budget deadlock.

Flight oversight bodies selected “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, a move that would force airlines to cancel thousands of flights and cause a cascade of scheduling complications and delays at some of the nation’s largest airports.

Official Statement

Trump’s transportation chief, Sean Duffy, commented on social media Thursday that the move was “not about politics” but rather “involving evaluation the data and mitigating building risk in the system as controllers continue working without pay”.

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

Airline Cutbacks

Analysts forecast hundreds if not thousands of flights may be scrapped. The flight decreases could represent 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 spanning over 25 states include the busiest ones across the US – featuring ATL, North Carolina's city, Denver, DFW, MCO, California gateway, Miami and SFO. In some of the biggest cities – like NYC, Texas city and Illinois hub – various airports will be impacted.

All three airports operating in the DC metro – Washington Dulles international, Baltimore/Washington international and Reagan National – will be impacted, inevitably causing delays and cancellations for government officials as well as additional passengers.

Additional Developments

• Below is the list of US airports decreasing flights on Friday due to federal government closure.
• A former Department of Justice employee who tossed food at a federal officer during Donald Trump’s law enforcement presence in the capital was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal setback of the federal action.
• Several liberal representatives saw Tuesday’s significant election victories as proof they should hold the line and secure the best deal from conservative lawmakers before approving the termination of the record-breaking budget standoff in history.
• Democrats praised Nancy Pelosi as a “courageous, pioneering” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “finest presiding officer in American history”, after her declaration that after 20 terms in Congress she plans to retire.
• The conservative leader, the chief of the political research group behind the policy blueprint, has apologized for endorsing the commentator's interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to step down.