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With the historic federal government closure stretches toward day 38, US skies will become less congested. The same cannot be said for US terminals.

Protective Actions Implemented

Donald Trump’s air traffic agency announced flights are being reduced to maintain air traffic control security during the federal government shutdown, now the longest recorded and with no apparent progress of a solution between conservative legislators and Democrats to end the federal budget deadlock.

Flight oversight bodies pinpointed “congested corridors” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, a step requiring airlines to scrub numerous flights and create a chain reaction of scheduling complications and delays at key American travel hubs.

Government Commentary

The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, stated on online platforms Thursday that the action was “not about politics” but rather “involving evaluation the data and alleviating building risk in the system as flight directors continue working without pay”.

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

Travel Disruptions

Experts predict hundreds if not thousands of flights might be called off. The flight decreases might account for as many as 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats total, according to an calculation by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Impacted Locations

The involved terminals including more than two dozen states include the most trafficked across the US – featuring ATL, CLT, DEN, Texas metroplex, Florida destination, Los Angeles, MIA and Bay Area airport. Within major metropolitan areas – such as New York, Texas city and Illinois hub – various airports will be impacted.

All three airports operating in the nation's capital region – Washington Dulles international, BWI and DCA – will be impacted, certainly generating schedule changes for elected representatives as well as additional passengers.

Additional Developments

• Here’s the list of US airports reducing air travel on Friday as a result of federal government closure.
• A former Department of Justice employee who threw a sandwich at a federal officer during Donald Trump’s law enforcement increase in DC was found not guilty of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal rejection of the federal action.
• Several liberal representatives viewed Tuesday’s big electoral wins as proof they should stand firm and secure the best deal from Republicans before approving the termination of the longest government shutdown 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”, subsequent to her declaration that after 20 terms in Congress she intends to step down.
• Kevin Roberts, the director of the conservative thinktank behind the conservative initiative, expressed regret for backing Tucker Carlson’s interview with Hitler admirer Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to resign.