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Amid the record-breaking federal government closure nears day 38, US airspace is about to get somewhat quieter. The same cannot be said for US terminals.

Protective Actions Enacted

The current administration's aviation regulatory body has said flight numbers are being lowered to uphold air traffic control security during the federal government funding lapse, currently the lengthiest in history and with no sign of a solution between Republicans and Democrats to end the federal budget deadlock.

Airline regulators selected “congested corridors” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, an action that will compel airlines to cancel thousands of flights and trigger a series of scheduling issues and setbacks at major US air terminals.

Administration Remarks

The federal transportation leader, Sean Duffy, stated on X Thursday that the action was “unrelated to political motives” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and alleviating accumulating danger in the system as flight directors continue working without pay”.

“Flying is safe today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the forward-thinking steps we are taking,” he added.

Travel Disruptions

Analysts forecast hundreds or even thousands of flights may be scrapped. These reductions may constitute up to 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats total, per an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The targeted air hubs covering numerous states include the highest-volume locations across the US – featuring Atlanta, North Carolina's city, Colorado's hub, DFW, MCO, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco. Within major metropolitan areas – such as New York, Texas city and Chicago – various airports will be involved.

Each of the three air terminals operating in the nation's capital region – IAD, BWI Airport and DCA – will be impacted, inevitably causing schedule changes for government officials as well as other travelers.

Other Developments

• This is the roster of domestic airports cutting flights on Friday due to federal government funding lapse.
• An ex-DOJ worker who threw a sandwich at a federal officer during the administration's law enforcement presence in Washington DC was found not guilty of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal rejection of the federal involvement.
• Some Democratic legislators viewed Tuesday’s major voting successes as evidence they should maintain their position and extract as much as possible from GOP members before consenting to conclude the longest government shutdown in history.
• Liberal lawmakers commended Nancy Pelosi as a “heroic, trailblazing” member of the US House of Representatives, an “symbol” and the “finest presiding officer in American history”, after her statement that following two decades in Congress she intends to step down.
• The conservative leader, the chief of the political research group behind the conservative initiative, has apologized for endorsing the commentator's interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to leave his position.