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Amid the historic federal government shutdown nears day 38, US flight paths are set to become a little less busy. This doesn't apply for US air travel hubs.

Safety Measures Put in Place

The federal air traffic agency has said flights are being reduced to maintain air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government closure, now the longest recorded and with little indication of a agreement between GOP lawmakers and Democratic representatives to end the federal budget standoff.

Flight oversight bodies selected “busiest routes” 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 cause a cascade of scheduling complications and hold-ups at key American travel hubs.

Administration Remarks

The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, commented on online platforms Thursday that the decision was “not politically driven” but rather “involving evaluation the data and reducing 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 preventive measures we are taking,” he remarked.

Flight Cancellations

Specialists anticipate hundreds if not thousands of flights may be scrapped. These reductions might account for up to 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats collectively, based on an calculation by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The involved terminals covering numerous states include the busiest ones across the US – including ATL, CLT, DEN, DFW, Orlando, California gateway, MIA and San Francisco. Within major metropolitan areas – like NYC, Texas city and Illinois hub – several air terminals will be involved.

Each of the three air terminals serving the Washington DC area – Washington Dulles international, BWI Airport and Reagan National – will be impacted, likely creating schedule changes for government officials as well as the flying public.

Other Developments

• Below is the list of US airports reducing air travel on Friday because of federal government closure.
• A former Department of Justice employee who threw a sandwich at a federal agent during the administration's law enforcement presence in the capital received a not guilty verdict of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal rebuke of the federal involvement.
• Several liberal representatives interpreted Tuesday’s big electoral wins as indication they should hold the line and secure the best deal from conservative lawmakers before consenting to conclude the lengthiest federal closure in history.
• Liberal lawmakers commended Nancy Pelosi as a “heroic, trailblazing” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, after her declaration that post twenty congressional sessions in Congress she will leave office.
• The thinktank head, the director of the conservative thinktank behind the conservative initiative, expressed regret for endorsing the host's interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is resisting calls to step down.