FAA to Slash Thousands of Flights as U.S. Shutdown Deepens
Photo credit- Unsplash
WASHINGTON, D.C — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that beginning Friday November 7, it will cut thousands of commercial flights nationwide as the ongoing U.S. government shutdown continues to strain staffing and air traffic control operations.
According to early data shared with U.S. airlines, the restrictions will affect more than 40 airports, including major hubs in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Dallas, Miami, Honolulu, and Washington, D.C.. The Department of Transportation estimates roughly a 10 percent reduction in total flight capacity, warning of severe delays and cancellations across key routes.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that “operational continuity is no longer sustainable without congressional action,” adding that the FAA is reallocating limited resources to maintain safety.
Appearing on Bloomberg TV monitored by DM Media Online, Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) condemned the partisan standoff, warning that “this shutdown is now directly affecting working families and travelers nationwide.” “The American people expect airplanes to run on time and right now, they’re not,” Rounds said. “This is hurting people who rely on SNAP and WIC. In South Dakota alone, 75,000 people depend on those programs.”
Rounds, who serves on both the Senate Appropriations and Intelligence Committees, urged a return to “governing through negotiation,” referencing at least 14 failed Senate votes to temporarily reopen the government while budget talks continue.
Sources on Capitol Hill indicate lawmakers are exploring a stopgap funding measure tied to Affordable Care Act premium extensions and partial-year appropriations to unlock stalled federal programs.
Rounds confirmed that the Senate Appropriations Committee has already approved most of the 2025 spending bills, which could cover “nearly 90 percent” of government operations if enacted. “We’ve made several attempts to attach existing appropriations to keep government running,” Rounds said.
“But so far, Democratic leadership has refused to move forward unless their full spending proposal is adopted.”
The senator accused the opposition of holding out for an additional $1.5 trillion in spending over the next decade a claim Democrats have not publicly confirmed but have framed as necessary to preserve social benefits and federal protections.
The FAA’s decision marks the most visible impact yet of the federal shutdown, which has entered its third week without a breakthrough.
Analysts warn that if no budget deal is reached soon, flight cancellations, federal assistance delays, and contractor furloughs could ripple across the economy heading into the holiday season. “This is no longer a Washington problem,” Rounds concluded. “It’s an American problem and it’s time to fix it.”
Read Also
