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As the historic federal government standoff nears day 38, US airspace are set to become less congested. Contrastingly for US air travel hubs.

Protective Actions Put in Place

The federal Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced flights are being reduced to uphold air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government shutdown, setting a new duration record and with no apparent progress of a resolution between conservative legislators and liberal officials to end the federal budget impasse.

Aviation authorities identified “busiest routes” where the FAA says air traffic must be reduced by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, a move that would force airlines to scrub numerous flights and trigger a cascade of scheduling issues and hold-ups at some of the nation’s largest airports.

Government Commentary

Trump’s transportation chief, Sean Duffy, commented on social media Thursday that the move was “not about politics” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and mitigating accumulating danger in the system as flight directors continue working without pay”.

“Air travel remains secure today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the proactive actions we are taking,” he added.

Flight Cancellations

Specialists anticipate hundreds if not thousands of flights might be called off. The cuts might account for up to 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats total, per an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Impacted Locations

The involved terminals covering numerous states include the busiest ones across the US – such as ATL, Charlotte, DEN, Texas metroplex, Florida destination, California gateway, MIA and SFO. Among key urban centers – like NYC, Houston and Illinois hub – various airports will be involved.

Each of the three air terminals serving the Washington DC area – IAD, BWI and DCA – will be affected, certainly generating schedule changes for elected representatives as well as additional passengers.

Other Developments

• Here’s the compilation of American air terminals reducing air travel on Friday due to federal government closure.
• A former Department of Justice employee who threw a sandwich at a government officer during Donald Trump’s law enforcement increase in Washington DC was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal rebuke of the federal involvement.
• Several liberal representatives interpreted Tuesday’s major voting successes as proof they should hold the line and extract as much as possible from conservative lawmakers before agreeing to end the lengthiest federal closure in history.
• Democrats praised Nancy Pelosi as a “heroic, trailblazing” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, following her announcement that following two decades in Congress she intends to step down.
• Kevin Roberts, the leader of the political research group behind the conservative initiative, issued an apology for backing the commentator's interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to resign.