✈️ US to Cut Flights at 40 Major Airports Amid Ongoing Government Shutdown, Transportation Secretary Warns
Washington, D.C. — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned that the United States will see a 10% reduction in flight capacity across 40 major airports starting Friday if the federal government shutdown is not resolved soon.
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) chief Bryan Bedford, the move comes after growing reports of fatigue, stress, and financial hardship among air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay for over a month.
“It is unusual — just as the shutdown is unusual, just as the fact that our controllers haven’t been paid for a month is unusual,” Bedford said, emphasizing that the decision was driven by safety concerns.
The flight cuts will roll out gradually, starting with 4% of domestic flights on Friday, increasing to 5% on Saturday, 6% on Sunday, and reaching the full 10% next week, Reuters reported, citing four officials. The FAA will release the names of affected airports — all high-traffic hubs — on Thursday.
Officials estimate the cuts could affect 3,500 to 4,000 flights per day, potentially causing major disruptions for travelers nationwide.
Duffy assured passengers that air travel remains safe, but said the reductions are necessary to maintain safety and efficiency as staffing shortages intensify.
“We are seeing pressures build in a way that, if unchecked, will not allow us to continue to tell the public that we operate the safest airline system in the world,” Bedford noted.
The shutdown — the longest in U.S. history — has left 1.4 million federal workers either on unpaid leave or forced to work without pay. Unions report rising stress levels, illness, and some employees taking second jobs to survive.
Labor union president Nick Daniels, representing over 20,000 aviation workers, described the situation as “unsustainable.”
“Controllers are texting, ‘I don’t even have enough money to put gas in my car to come to work,’” he said. “There is no predictability right now.”
Major airlines are monitoring the situation closely:
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American Airlines said it expects minimal impact but awaits FAA details.
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Southwest Airlines stated it is still evaluating potential service disruptions.
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Delta Airlines declined to comment.
Airports have already faced temporary groundings and delays as controllers called out sick, forcing nearby staff to fill in. Duffy has previously warned that air traffic controllers taking on side jobs during the shutdown may risk fatigue and discipline.
“They have to decide — go to work and not get paid, or find another job to put food on the table,” Duffy said earlier this week.
Industry groups and unions are urging Congress to end the funding impasse immediately to restore the National Airspace System to full capacity.
If the stalemate continues, officials say additional restrictions on flights and operations could follow in the coming days.
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