FAA to Cut Air Traffic by 10% Amid Ongoing Government Shutdown

Wed Nov 19 2025 08:48:57 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Federal Aviation Administration announces a 10% reduction in air traffic across 40 high-traffic markets starting Friday, a response to staffing shortages due to the government shutdown. This move is expected to impact thousands of flights nationwide.

With the federal government shutdown now well underway, the FAA has decided to implement a 10% reduction in air traffic for 40 particularly busy markets. This decision comes in light of staffing crises as air traffic controllers continue to work unpaid, leading to significant delays across various airports. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford expressed urgency for these measures to avert further complications in air traffic management. Details on the specific markets affected will be made available soon.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday that it will reduce air traffic by 10% across 40 high-volume markets beginning Friday morning to maintain safety during the ongoing government shutdown.

This reduction will affect thousands of flights nationwide.

The FAA is grappling with staffing shortages as air traffic controllers have been working without pay since the shutdown began on October 1. Many controllers are calling in sick, leading to delays across the country.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated that the agency would not wait for the situation to escalate further, emphasizing the urgent need for these measures to address staffing pressures caused by the shutdown.

“We can’t ignore it,” he said.

Later Wednesday, Bedford and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy are set to meet with airline executives to discuss how to safely implement the flight reductions.

“The early indicators are telling us we can take action today to prevent things from deteriorating,” Bedford added.

Both officials refrained from naming the affected markets during a news conference, promising that details will be available Thursday following discussions with the airlines.

“If the pressures continue to build even after we take these measures,” Bedford warned, “we’ll come back and take additional measures.”

Delays have already been reported at various airports, with some instances lasting hours due to the FAA's slowdowns whenever controller numbers fall short. Over the previous weekend, staffing shortages were particularly acute, with Newark Liberty International Airport experiencing substantial delays.

Major airlines, aviation unions, and the broader travel industry have been urging Congress to resolve the shutdown promptly. Aviation analytics firm Cirium identified a broader slowdown across the aviation system last Thursday for the first time since the shutdown began, raising concerns that staffing-related disruptions are becoming more widespread.

Earlier this week, Secretary Duffy indicated potential chaos in the skies if the shutdown prolongs and controllers miss their next paychecks.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association revealed that most controllers are putting in mandatory overtime six days a week, leaving them little time to pursue additional jobs to cover their bills and expenses.