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Amid the unprecedented federal government standoff stretches toward day 38, US skies are set to become less congested. Contrastingly for US air travel hubs.

Safety Measures Enacted

Donald Trump’s aviation regulatory body stated flight numbers are being lowered to ensure air traffic control safety during the federal government shutdown, setting a new duration record and with no sign of a agreement between conservative legislators and liberal officials to end the federal budget deadlock.

Aviation authorities identified “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic needs cutting by 4% by 6 a.m. Eastern on Friday, a move that would force airlines to scrub numerous flights and trigger a chain reaction of scheduling complications and setbacks at some of the nation’s largest airports.

Administration Remarks

Trump’s transportation chief, Sean Duffy, commented on online platforms Thursday that the move was “not politically driven” but rather “concerned with reviewing the data and reducing accumulating danger in the system as air traffic professionals continue working without pay”.

“Air travel remains secure today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the preventive measures we are taking,” Duffy added.

Airline Cutbacks

Experts predict numerous potentially thousands of flights might be called off. These reductions might account for as many as 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats combined, per an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The targeted air hubs including over 25 states include the most trafficked across the US – featuring Atlanta, CLT, Colorado's hub, Dallas/Fort Worth, Orlando, LAX, MIA and SFO. Among key urban centers – like NYC, Texas city and Illinois hub – several air terminals will be involved.

Each of the three air terminals operating in the DC metro – IAD, Baltimore/Washington international and Reagan National – will be involved, inevitably causing delays and cancellations for government officials as well as other travelers.

Other Developments

• Below is the roster of domestic airports cutting flights on Friday due to federal government funding lapse.
• An ex-DOJ worker who tossed food at a federal agent during the current law enforcement increase in DC received a not guilty verdict of assault by a DC jury on Thursday representing a recent legal rejection of the federal involvement.
• Some Democratic legislators viewed Tuesday’s major voting successes as indication they should maintain their position and gain maximum concessions from conservative lawmakers 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 “icon” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, following her declaration that following two decades in Congress she intends to step down.
• Kevin Roberts, the chief of the right-leaning policy organization behind the conservative initiative, issued an apology for backing the host's interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to leave his position.