WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced Wednesday that it will implement a 10 percent reduction in scheduled air traffic across 40 major U.S. markets starting Friday to preserve safety amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.
The decision comes as the shutdown, now stretching over five weeks, has forced thousands of air-traffic controllers and TSA agents to work without pay—leading to growing absences and long delays at airports. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford warned the agency could take further steps, including closing parts of the national airspace, if staffing pressures worsen.
At a press conference alongside Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Bedford said the cutback is aimed at “taking pressure off our controllers” and stabilizing operations until Congress resolves the funding impasse.
Airlines and aviation unions have expressed deep concern and urged lawmakers to end the shutdown, highlighting that over 3 million passengers have already been affected by delays or cancellations this month.
While the FAA says the aviation system remains safe, it stressed that the reduction will affect commercial, cargo and possibly space-launch operations in the impacted markets. The full list of affected corridors is expected to be released after further consultations with airline executives.
Industry analysts say the move underscores the risks of continued protracted shutdowns to national infrastructure, with ripple effects likely to extend beyond today’s travel disruptions.
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