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Amid the unprecedented federal government closure stretches toward day 38, US airspace are set to become somewhat quieter. The same cannot be said for US airports.

Safety Measures Enacted

Donald Trump’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said flight numbers are being lowered to uphold air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government closure, now the longest recorded and with no apparent progress of a solution between conservative legislators and liberal officials to end the federal budget deadlock.

Aviation authorities pinpointed “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic needs cutting by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, a step requiring airlines to scrub numerous flights and trigger a series of scheduling problems and hold-ups at major US air terminals.

Official Statement

Trump’s transportation chief, Sean Duffy, stated on social media Thursday that the move was “not about politics” but rather “about assessing the data and alleviating building risk in the system as controllers continue working without pay”.

“Flying is safe today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the forward-thinking steps we are taking,” Duffy stated.

Flight Cancellations

Specialists anticipate numerous potentially thousands of flights may be scrapped. These reductions might account for up to 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats collectively, based on an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The involved terminals spanning over 25 states include the most trafficked across the US – such as Georgia's capital, Charlotte, DEN, Texas metroplex, Orlando, LAX, Florida hotspot and San Francisco. In some of the biggest cities – including NYC, Houston and Chicago – various airports will be impacted.

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

Other Developments

• Here’s the roster of domestic airports reducing air travel on Friday as a result of federal government closure.
• An ex-DOJ worker who tossed food at a federal officer during Donald Trump’s law enforcement increase in the capital received a not guilty verdict of assault by a DC jury on Thursday representing a recent legal setback of the federal action.
• Certain Democratic lawmakers viewed Tuesday’s big electoral wins as indication they should stand firm and extract as much as possible from conservative lawmakers before approving the termination of the lengthiest federal closure in history.
• Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “courageous, pioneering” member of the US House of Representatives, an “symbol” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, subsequent to her declaration that post twenty congressional sessions in Congress she plans to retire.
• The thinktank head, the director of the conservative thinktank behind the policy blueprint, expressed regret for backing the host's interview with Hitler admirer Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to resign.