Major U.S. Airports Reducing Flights Amid Government Shutdown
The United States is currently experiencing a significant crisis stemming from an unprecedented government shutdown that has lasted over 36 days.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Wednesday a plan to cut flights by 10% at 40 major airports nationwide starting Friday unless a deal is struck to end the fiscal deadlock.
This measure aims to alleviate the burden on air traffic controllers, who continue to work without pay, leading to widespread delays, security line backups, and disruptions in air travel.
Additionally, officials will limit rocket launches to specific times of the day to prevent further airspace congestion.
According to industry analysis firm Cirium, these restrictions will affect major hubs such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, and Dallas, resulting in the cancellation of up to 1,800 flights and over 268,000 passenger seats.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned of potential additional restrictions if air traffic issues worsen, and airlines are already consulting on how to minimize the impact on passengers.
Meanwhile, political tensions remain high as a budget agreement remains stalled in Congress, with Democrats refusing to support bills without extending medical subsidies, while Republicans oppose this.
President Donald Trump and Republican leaders are ramping up pressure on Democrats by highlighting how the shutdown affects ordinary Americans.
Since October 1, hundreds of thousands of government employees have been furloughed or working without pay, and essential public services and programs for low-income populations have been suspended.
Polls show that most Americans blame Trump and the Republican Party more than Democrats for the shutdown.
Major airlines such as United and American have experienced about a 1% drop in stock prices amid additional trading losses.
Over 3.2 million passengers have already been affected by delays and cancellations caused by the shortage of air traffic controllers, and the number of delayed flights on Wednesday alone exceeded 2,100.
FAA Administrator Brian Bedford stated that 20–40% of controllers at the country’s largest airports are currently unavailable, creating significant safety concerns and operational challenges for the U.S.
air travel system.