US Shutdown Forces 10% Flight Reductions at 40 Major Airports

The United States will reduce roughly 10% of flights across 40 major airports from Friday as the federal shutdown, now entering its 36th day, continues to disrupt the country’s aviation network and inconvenience large numbers of travelers.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Wednesday that the step responds to severe shortages among air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration officers, many of whom have been working without pay since the shutdown began on October 1.

Duffy stressed the decision was taken to preserve safety amid dwindling resources and growing fatigue among essential personnel.

Air Traffic Chaos Looms

The prolonged shutdown has already produced widespread cancellations and lengthy delays. The Federal Aviation Administration reports that about 13,000 air traffic controllers and some 50,000 TSA agents remain on the job without pay, a situation that has hit morale and raised absenteeism.

Aviation analytics firm Cirium says the planned reductions could affect more than 1,800 flights and about 268,000 seats each day. The hardest-hit hubs are in New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Dallas — among the busiest airports in the nation.

The FAA warned that if staffing problems worsen, further restrictions could be imposed, potentially grounding additional services.

Airlines React to Flight Reduction

Major carriers including Delta, United, American and Southwest said they are assessing the government’s directive and putting contingency plans in place to limit passenger disruption.

An industry spokesperson from Airlines for America said the sector is coordinating with federal authorities to understand the scope of reductions and to reduce inconvenience for travelers.

Analysts caution that ongoing flight cuts would cost carriers significant revenue; shares of leading airlines fell about 1% in after-hours trading following the announcement.

Political Deadlock Deepens

The shutdown has resulted from a budget stalemate in Congress. Lawmakers remain divided over spending measures, with Democrats refusing packages that omit health insurance subsidies and Republicans, backed by President Donald Trump, seeking to amplify pressure by pointing to the mounting disruptions.

As a result, roughly 750,000 federal workers have been furloughed, and millions of low-income Americans face reduced access to essential services such as food assistance.

Aviation Safety at Risk

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said an estimated 20% to 40% of controllers at the busiest airports have stopped showing up for work amid financial strain, placing intense stress on the system.

Duffy warned that continued shutdown conditions could trigger severe airspace disruptions and even lead to temporary closures of certain airspace segments. The Department of Transportation also said it will limit space launches to specific windows to ease pressure on control teams.

Passengers Left in Limbo

Industry estimates indicate more than 3.2 million travelers have already been affected by cancellations and delays during the shutdown. At airports nationwide, passengers have faced long security lines, missed connections and sudden schedule changes.

Despite reassurances from airlines, experts say prolonged interruptions could damage consumer confidence and depress holiday travel bookings if the shutdown continues into the winter season.