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Amid the historic federal government standoff stretches toward day 38, US skies are set to become less congested. Contrastingly for US air travel hubs.

Safety Measures Enacted

Donald Trump’s aviation regulatory body announced air travel is being curtailed to ensure air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government closure, setting a new duration record and with no apparent progress of a resolution between Republicans and liberal officials to end the federal budget impasse.

Flight oversight bodies identified “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic must be reduced by 4% by 6 a.m. Eastern on Friday, a step requiring airlines to cancel thousands of flights and cause a chain reaction of scheduling issues and hold-ups at some of the nation’s largest airports.

Official Statement

Trump’s transportation chief, Sean Duffy, wrote on online platforms Thursday that the action was “not about politics” but rather “about assessing the data and reducing accumulating danger in the system as air traffic professionals continue working without pay”.

“It’s safe to fly today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the preventive measures we are taking,” the official stated.

Airline Cutbacks

Experts predict hundreds or even thousands of flights may be scrapped. The flight decreases may constitute as many as 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats collectively, according to an calculation by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Impacted Locations

The involved terminals spanning over 25 states include the busiest ones across the US – featuring ATL, North Carolina's city, Colorado's hub, Texas metroplex, Florida destination, LAX, MIA and Bay Area airport. In some of the biggest cities – such as NYC, Texas city and Chicago – several air terminals will be impacted.

The trio of airports operating in the Washington DC area – IAD, BWI and Ronald Reagan Washington national – will be involved, certainly generating delays and cancellations for government officials as well as the flying public.

Other Developments

• Here’s the list of US airports decreasing flights on Friday due to federal government shutdown.
• A former Department of Justice employee who hurled a sandwich at a federal agent during Donald Trump’s law enforcement surge in DC received a not guilty verdict of assault by a DC jury on Thursday representing a recent legal setback of the federal action.
• Certain Democratic lawmakers saw Tuesday’s major voting successes as indication they should maintain their position and secure the best deal from GOP members before consenting to conclude the lengthiest federal closure in history.
• Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “courageous, pioneering” member of the US House of Representatives, an “icon” and the “finest presiding officer in American history”, subsequent to her declaration that post twenty congressional sessions in Congress she will leave office.
• Kevin Roberts, the director of the conservative thinktank behind the conservative initiative, issued an apology for endorsing the host's interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to step down.