Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned that the ongoing US government shutdowncould force a 10% reduction in flight operations across 40 major airports beginning Friday, citing air traffic controller fatigue and safety concerns.
Speaking alongside Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) chief Bryan Bedford, Duffy said the measure will be implemented if Congress fails to approve a new federal funding bill this week. The FAA says the prolonged shutdown has severely strained its workforce, with many air traffic controllers working unpaid for nearly a month.
“It is unusual, just as the shutdown itself is unusual and so is the fact that our controllers haven’t been paid in weeks,” Bedford said during the briefing.
Gradual Flight Reductions Planned, According to reports. the flight cuts will be rolled out gradually starting with a 4% reduction on Friday, 5% on Saturday, and 6% on Sunday, before reaching 10% by next week. This could lead to the cancellation of 3,500 to 4,000 flights daily, primarily affecting high-traffic airports. The full list of affected airports will be released Thursday.
Bedford said the reductions were necessary to ensure the continued safety and efficiency of US airspace.
“We are seeing pressures build that, if left unchecked, could compromise the safety of the system. We will not allow that,” he said.
Airlines Respond to Potential Cancellations
American Airlines, the nation’s second-largest carrier, said it is awaiting details from the FAA before finalizing which flights will be canceled, though it expects “the vast majority of customers’ travel will be unaffected.”
A Southwest Airlines spokesperson said the airline is still assessing how the restrictions will impact schedules and urged Congress to resolve the impasse immediately.
“We continue to urge Congress to end the shutdown and restore the National Airspace System to full capacity,” the statement read.
Delta Airlines declined to comment, while other major carriers have been contacted by media outlets for clarification.
Shutdown Hits Workers and Air Travel Hard, Since government funding ran out on October 1, nearly 1.4 million federal employees including air traffic controllers, airport screeners, and park wardens have been working without pay or placed on unpaid leave.
Union leaders warn that the financial strain is pushing many employees to exhaustion or forcing them to take second jobs to make ends meet.
Nick Daniels, president of the union representing 20,000 aviation workers, described the situation as dire.
“Controllers are texting me saying, ‘I don’t even have gas money to get to work,’” he said. “We depend on predictability, and right now, there is none.”
Duffy acknowledged that half of the nation’s 30 busiest airports are now facing staff shortages. He also warned of risks linked to controllers taking side jobs during the shutdown to cover living costs.
“They’re forced to choose between going to work unpaid or driving for Uber to feed their families,” Duffy said in an earlier interview.
Longest Shutdown in US History, The current budget stalemate has become the longest government shutdown in US history, crippling key federal operations and threatening broader impacts across transportation, security, and tourism.
FAA officials say they are doing everything possible to maintain safety, but warn that if the shutdown continues, further flight restrictions and service delays could follow in the coming weeks.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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