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As the record-breaking federal government closure approaches day 38, US skies is about to get less congested. The same cannot be said for US terminals.

Precautionary Steps Put in Place

The federal air traffic agency has said flights are being reduced to uphold air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government shutdown, currently the lengthiest in history and with no apparent progress of a solution between conservative legislators and Democrats to end the federal budget impasse.

Aviation authorities selected “busiest routes” where the FAA says air traffic needs cutting by 4% by 6 a.m. Eastern on Friday, a step requiring airlines to scrub numerous flights and create a series of scheduling problems and setbacks at major US air terminals.

Administration Remarks

Trump’s transportation chief, Sean Duffy, wrote on online platforms Thursday that the decision was “unrelated to political motives” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and reducing growing safety concerns in the system as controllers 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 added.

Flight Cancellations

Specialists anticipate hundreds or even thousands of flights may be scrapped. The flight decreases might account for approximately 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats total, according to an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The targeted air hubs covering more than two dozen states include the most trafficked across the US – featuring ATL, Charlotte, Denver, Dallas/Fort Worth, Florida destination, California gateway, Florida hotspot and San Francisco. Within major metropolitan areas – such as NYC, Houston and Illinois hub – several air terminals will be involved.

Each of the three air terminals serving the nation's capital region – Dulles Airport, BWI Airport and Reagan National – will be involved, inevitably causing delays and cancellations for lawmakers as well as additional passengers.

Other Developments

• This is the list of US airports cutting flights on Friday because of federal government closure.
• An ex-DOJ worker who threw a sandwich at a government officer during the administration's law enforcement surge in the capital was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday representing a recent legal rejection of the federal action.
• Some Democratic legislators saw Tuesday’s significant election victories as indication they should maintain their position and gain maximum concessions from conservative lawmakers before agreeing to end the lengthiest federal closure in history.
• Liberal lawmakers commended Nancy Pelosi as a “bold, groundbreaking” member of the US House of Representatives, an “icon” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, following her announcement that following two decades in Congress she plans to retire.
• The conservative leader, the director of the right-leaning policy organization behind the conservative initiative, has apologized for supporting the host's interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is resisting calls to step down.