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Amid the historic federal government standoff stretches toward day 38, US skies are set to become less congested. This doesn't apply for US airports.

Precautionary Steps Enacted

The federal air traffic agency stated air travel is being curtailed to uphold air traffic control security during the federal government funding lapse, currently the lengthiest in history and with no sign of a resolution between GOP lawmakers and liberal officials to end the federal budget standoff.

Aviation authorities pinpointed “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic needs cutting by 4% by early morning Eastern Time on Friday, an action that will compel airlines to call off thousands of journeys and cause a cascade of scheduling problems and hold-ups at some of the nation’s largest airports.

Administration Remarks

The federal transportation leader, Sean Duffy, wrote on online platforms Thursday that the action was “not politically driven” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and alleviating growing safety concerns in the system as controllers continue working without pay”.

“It’s safe to fly today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the forward-thinking steps we are taking,” Duffy remarked.

Airline Cutbacks

Analysts forecast numerous potentially thousands of flights may be scrapped. These reductions might account for approximately 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats combined, based on an calculation by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Targeted Terminals

The involved terminals covering more than two dozen states include the most trafficked across the US – including Georgia's capital, North Carolina's city, DEN, Texas metroplex, Orlando, Los Angeles, MIA and Bay Area airport. Within major metropolitan areas – like New York, Texas city and Illinois hub – several air terminals will be involved.

Each of the three air terminals operating in the Washington DC area – Dulles Airport, Baltimore/Washington international and Ronald Reagan Washington national – will be affected, inevitably causing schedule changes for government officials as well as additional passengers.

Other Developments

• Here’s the roster of domestic airports decreasing flights on Friday as a result of federal government shutdown.
• A previous justice department staffer who threw a sandwich at a federal officer during Donald Trump’s law enforcement increase in DC was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal rejection of the federal action.
• Some Democratic legislators viewed Tuesday’s big electoral wins as indication they should maintain their position and secure the best deal from GOP members before approving the termination of the record-breaking budget standoff in history.
• Democrats praised Nancy Pelosi as a “courageous, pioneering” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “finest presiding officer in American history”, following her statement that following two decades in Congress she plans to retire.
• The conservative leader, the director of the political research group behind the policy blueprint, has apologized for backing the commentator's interview with Hitler admirer Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to resign.