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As the record-breaking federal government standoff approaches day 38, US flight paths will become a little less busy. The same cannot be said for US airports.

Protective Actions Implemented

The current administration's aviation regulatory body announced flight numbers are being lowered to ensure air traffic control safety during the federal government shutdown, currently the lengthiest in history and with no sign of a resolution between GOP lawmakers and Democrats to end the federal budget standoff.

Airline regulators identified “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 call off thousands of journeys and trigger a series of scheduling issues and hold-ups at key American travel hubs.

Administration Remarks

The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, wrote on online platforms Thursday that the decision was “not politically driven” but rather “involving evaluation the data and alleviating accumulating danger in the system as air traffic professionals continue working without pay”.

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

Airline Cutbacks

Specialists anticipate hundreds if not thousands of flights could be canceled. The cuts may constitute approximately 1,800 flights and more than 268,000 seats collectively, per an calculation by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Targeted Terminals

The affected airports covering over 25 states include the highest-volume locations across the US – such as Atlanta, CLT, Colorado's hub, DFW, Orlando, Los Angeles, MIA and San Francisco. Within major metropolitan areas – including New York, Texas city and Chicago – various airports will be impacted.

Each of the three air terminals operating in the DC metro – Dulles Airport, Baltimore/Washington international and DCA – will be involved, certainly generating delays and cancellations for lawmakers as well as other travelers.

Additional Developments

• This is the roster of domestic airports cutting flights on Friday due to federal government closure.
• An ex-DOJ worker who hurled a sandwich at a federal agent during the administration's law enforcement increase in Washington DC received a not guilty verdict of assault by a DC jury on Thursday representing a recent legal rejection of the federal involvement.
• Several liberal representatives saw Tuesday’s significant election victories as evidence they should maintain their position and extract as much as possible from Republicans before agreeing to end the longest government shutdown in history.
• Liberal lawmakers commended Nancy Pelosi as a “heroic, trailblazing” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, after her declaration that post twenty congressional sessions in Congress she will leave office.
• Kevin Roberts, the chief of the right-leaning policy organization behind the policy blueprint, issued an apology for endorsing the host's interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to step down.