U.S. Orders 10% Flight Cuts at 40 Major Airports Amid Record 36-Day Government Shutdown Over Air Traffic Safety Concerns

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Wednesday that flight operations at 40 major airports across the country would be reduced by 10%, citing growing air traffic control safety concerns as the federal government shutdown entered its 36th day — the longest in U.S. history.

The decision prompted immediate disruption within the aviation industry, as airlines rushed to implement large-scale schedule reductions within just 36 hours. Passengers quickly inundated airline customer service lines, seeking information about cancellations and delays expected in the coming days.

Secretary Duffy stated that the flight reductions could be lifted if Democrats agreed to reopen the government, signaling that the move was also intended to intensify pressure on Congress to reach a resolution. The shutdown has left approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents working without pay, raising mounting concerns about safety, fatigue, and morale among essential personnel responsible for maintaining U.S. air travel operations.

The Trump administration has increasingly warned that aviation disruptions could worsen if the political impasse continues. Officials have framed the flight cuts as necessary to preserve safety amid a thinning workforce, while critics argue the administration is leveraging public inconvenience to force Democrats to yield.

Democratic leaders, meanwhile, have blamed Republicans for the prolonged shutdown, accusing them of refusing to negotiate on key healthcare subsidies and other budget issues. The standoff has left millions of travelers and federal workers caught in the middle, with growing uncertainty over how long normal air travel operations will remain affected.