Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Nov 6: The United States government will scale back flight operations by 10 percent across 40 major airports starting Friday morning, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Wednesday. The decision comes as the ongoing government shutdown entered its 36th day — the longest in the nation’s history — and mounting strain threatens to overwhelm the country’s air traffic control system.

The reduction, described as a precautionary step, will affect between 3,500 and 4,000 flights daily, covering both commercial and cargo operations. Specific airports impacted by the move will be named on Thursday, officials said.

“This is a proactive measure,” Duffy told reporters during a press briefing. “We thought 10 percent was the right number based on the pressure we were seeing.” He added that no end date has been set for the restrictions.

The announcement follows Duffy’s earlier warning that continued inaction on the shutdown could lead to “chaos” in American airspace within days.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the cutback is intended to preserve safety and prevent system failures as staff shortages worsen. Thousands of air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees have been working without pay since the shutdown began.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said internal data revealed growing signs of fatigue and operational stress among personnel. “When we look closely at the numbers, we’re seeing pressure points that could soon compromise safety. We can’t, in good conscience, tell the public we’re operating the world’s safest air system if we let this continue unchecked,” he said.

Air traffic controllers, classified as essential workers, must remain on duty even though their paychecks have been suspended. The 10 percent reduction in flight capacity represents an unprecedented move by the FAA during a federal shutdown.

Officials acknowledged that the decision is likely to trigger longer delays and flight cancellations nationwide, especially as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches — one of the busiest travel periods of the year in the United States.

Airlines for America, a trade association representing major U.S. carriers, said it was coordinating with federal authorities to “understand all aspects of the new reduction mandate” and pledged to minimize disruptions for passengers and freight operators.

The FAA emphasized that U.S. airspace remains safe and fully functional for now but cautioned that extended staffing shortages could prompt even deeper restrictions if the shutdown continues.

Airports across the country have already been hit by growing delays. On Sunday alone, more than 5,000 flights were reported delayed nationwide, highlighting the system’s mounting fragility as the shutdown drags on.