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With the unprecedented federal government standoff stretches toward day 38, US airspace are set to become somewhat quieter. The same cannot be said for US air travel hubs.

Precautionary Steps Implemented

The current administration's air traffic agency has said air travel is being curtailed to maintain air traffic control safety during the federal government shutdown, setting a new duration record and with no apparent progress of a agreement between conservative legislators and liberal officials to end the federal budget standoff.

Aviation authorities selected “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 issues and delays at key American travel hubs.

Government Commentary

Trump’s transportation chief, Sean Duffy, commented on social media Thursday that the action was “unrelated to political motives” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and reducing growing safety concerns in the system as flight directors continue working without pay”.

“It’s safe to fly today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the proactive actions we are taking,” he remarked.

Flight Cancellations

Experts predict hundreds if not thousands of flights could be canceled. The cuts might account for approximately 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats combined, based on an calculation by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The affected airports including more than two dozen states include the highest-volume locations across the US – such as ATL, Charlotte, Colorado's hub, Dallas/Fort Worth, Orlando, California gateway, Miami and San Francisco. Within major metropolitan areas – including NYC, Houston and Chicago – various airports will be impacted.

Each of the three air terminals operating in the DC metro – IAD, BWI and Reagan National – will be involved, certainly generating flight disruptions for elected representatives as well as additional passengers.

Additional Developments

• Here’s the compilation of American air terminals reducing air travel on Friday due to federal government shutdown.
• An ex-DOJ worker who hurled a sandwich at a government officer during Donald Trump’s law enforcement presence in DC was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal rejection of the federal action.
• Several liberal representatives interpreted Tuesday’s significant election victories as indication they should stand firm and gain maximum concessions from conservative lawmakers before consenting to conclude the lengthiest federal closure in history.
• Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “courageous, pioneering” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, following her statement that following two decades in Congress she will leave office.
• Kevin Roberts, the director of the conservative thinktank behind the conservative initiative, issued an apology for backing the host's interview with Hitler admirer Nick Fuentes, but is resisting calls to leave his position.