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Amid the historic federal government standoff stretches toward day 38, US skies is about to get somewhat quieter. Contrastingly for US terminals.

Precautionary Steps Put in Place

Donald Trump’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said air travel is being curtailed to maintain air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government closure, now the longest recorded and with no sign of a agreement between GOP lawmakers and Democratic representatives to end the federal budget deadlock.

Aviation authorities pinpointed “congested corridors” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by 6 a.m. Eastern on Friday, a move that would force airlines to scrub numerous flights and create a chain reaction of scheduling problems and delays at some of the nation’s largest airports.

Administration Remarks

Trump’s transportation chief, Sean Duffy, commented on social media Thursday that the move was “unrelated to political motives” but rather “involving evaluation the data and mitigating growing safety concerns in the system as air traffic professionals continue working without pay”.

“Air travel remains secure today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the proactive actions we are taking,” Duffy remarked.

Travel Disruptions

Experts predict numerous potentially thousands of flights might be called off. The cuts might account for as many as 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats combined, according to an estimate by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Targeted Terminals

The affected airports including over 25 states include the busiest ones across the US – such as ATL, CLT, Colorado's hub, DFW, Orlando, California gateway, Miami and San Francisco. Among key urban centers – including NYC, Texas city and Illinois hub – several air terminals will be impacted.

Each of the three air terminals serving the Washington DC area – Washington Dulles international, BWI and DCA – will be impacted, certainly generating schedule changes for government officials as well as additional passengers.

Related Updates

• Here’s the compilation of American air terminals decreasing flights on Friday as a result of federal government shutdown.
• A former Department of Justice employee who tossed food at a federal agent during the current law enforcement presence in DC was found not guilty of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal setback of the federal intervention.
• Several liberal representatives saw Tuesday’s big electoral wins as proof they should maintain their position and gain maximum concessions from Republicans before approving the termination of the longest government shutdown in history.
• Liberal lawmakers commended Nancy Pelosi as a “heroic, trailblazing” member of the US House of Representatives, an “symbol” and the “most accomplished leader in American history”, subsequent to her declaration that following two decades in Congress she intends to step down.
• The conservative leader, the chief of the political research group behind the conservative initiative, issued an apology for endorsing the host's interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is resisting calls to leave his position.