The U.S. government’s ongoing funding impasse has prompted transport officials to announce a potential 10 % cut in domestic air traffic across 40 major airports if the shutdown persists. The decision is scheduled to begin on Friday and gradually escalate over the weekend, reflecting growing concerns over fatigue and staffing shortages among air traffic controllers. The shutdown, which entered its record-setting 36th day, has left key aviation workers unpaid and systems under strain.
Escalating cuts and aviation safety worries
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Sean Duffy, the U.S. Transportation Secretary, said that the reductions will start at approximately 4 % of flights on Friday, rise to about 5 % on Saturday, then 6 % on Sunday, and reach the full 10 % level next week if no resolution is reached. The cuts will target domestic operations at the busiest U.S. hubs, while initial reports indicate international routes will be exempt for now. Some estimates suggest the reductions could eliminate up to 1,800 flights and more than 268,000 seats daily at high-volume airports.
Officials emphasised that the move is intended to preserve safety and system reliability, citing reports from controllers of fatigue, extended work hours and staffing shortfalls. The FAA has recorded a surge in calls-out and sick leave among controllers working without pay, which the regulator says is diminishing operational margins. One controller described working “double shifts and two hours of sleep” while trying to maintain safe traffic levels.
Impact on airlines, passengers and political pressure
Major carriers such as United Airlines, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines are scrambling to adjust schedules and reassure passengers that most travel will not be affected. Some airlines are offering refunds or alternate options for travellers on non-refundable tickets. Travel industry analysts warn that the upcoming holiday travel rush could face major disruptions if the shutdown continues and the flight cuts deepen.
The aviation warning adds fresh political pressure on lawmakers, as the shutdown now affects millions of federal workers and a wide range of public services. Transportation unions have sounded the alarm over controller working conditions, and aviation safety experts say the step is unprecedented with most relating it to scenarios only seen in war or natural disaster. Lawmakers from both parties face growing calls to act quickly to reopen government and restore full air-traffic capacity.
The announcement marks a rare moment when operational safety concerns have directly translated into mandated capacity reductions at civilian airports suggesting that the ripple effects of the shutdown are extending far beyond Washington’s corridors to the nation’s transportation system and travellers.