The ongoing government shutdown has entered its 37th day, marking the longest in U.S. history, and the effects on air travel are expected to expand in the coming days. Beginning Friday, several major airports — including Dallas-Fort Worth International, Dallas Love Field, Houston George Bush Intercontinental, and Houston William P. Hobby — will see reductions in flights as federal aviation staffing continues to be strained.
Earlier this week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that air travel across the country will be scaled back. He said that about 40 major airports will experience a 10 percent reduction in air traffic as the shutdown continues.
"We had a gut check of what is our job," Duffy said. "Our job is to make sure we make the hard decisions to continue to keep the airspace safe."
The planned reductions are expected to affect approximately 4,000 flights nationwide. According to Reuters, around 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA agents are currently working without pay due to the shutdown. While essential staff remain on duty, shortages have created pressure on the system.
“There will be frustration,” Duffy acknowledged. “We are working with airlines. They are working with passengers.”
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford also emphasized the need for action during a call with U.S. flight carriers. According to Reuters, Bedford said, "When we see pressures building in these 40 markets, we just can't ignore it. We can take action today to prevent things from deteriorating so the system is extremely safe today, will be extremely safe tomorrow.”
The capacity reductions are planned to gradually increase: 4 percent on Friday, 5 percent Saturday, 6 percent Sunday, and reaching 10 percent next week. While no outright airspace closures have been announced yet, Duffy warned that such steps may become necessary if staffing conditions worsen.
"You will see mass flight delays. You'll see mass cancelations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace, because we just cannot manage it because we don't have the air traffic controllers," he said.
The strain is also being felt by those who work in aviation beyond air traffic control. The Association of Flight Attendants, representing 55,000 workers across 20 airlines, issued a statement calling for an immediate end to the shutdown. The Association described the situation as “the latest cruel attack on federal workers in a never-ending effort to demoralize dedicated civil servants and veterans in order to privatize all functions of government - in service to the greed of a few at the expense of the many.”
As the shutdown continues, air travelers are being advised to expect longer lines, delays, and reduced flight availability — especially at busy hub airports like those in Dallas and Houston. Airlines have not yet publicly detailed how they will adjust schedules, but officials have indicated that efforts are underway to minimize disruptions where possible.
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