U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford announced on November 5 that the agency would mandate a temporary 10 percent reduction in flights at 40 high-traffic airports nationwide, citing increased strain on air traffic controllers who have been working without pay since the shutdown began October 1.
The reductions took effect Friday morning, November 7, starting at 4 percent capacity and ramping up incrementally to 6 percent by November 11, 8 percent by November 13, and reaching the full 10 percent reduction by November 14. The cuts apply to flights operating between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. local time and affect all commercial airlines.
By early Friday morning, more than 815 flights had been canceled nationwide, a significant increase from 201 cancellations reported the previous day. Major carriers including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines began notifying passengers of cancellations on Thursday in preparation for the directive.
The reductions took effect Friday morning, November 7, starting at 4 percent capacity and ramping up incrementally to 6 percent by November 11, 8 percent by November 13, and reaching the full 10 percent reduction by November 14. The cuts apply to flights operating between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. local time and affect all commercial airlines.
By early Friday morning, more than 815 flights had been canceled nationwide, a significant increase from 201 cancellations reported the previous day. Major carriers including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines began notifying passengers of cancellations on Thursday in preparation for the directive.
The decision comes as approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without compensation for more than five weeks. From Friday through Sunday, FAA facilities logged 98 “staffing trigger” notifications, indicating controllers were forced to modify operations to maintain airspace safety with reduced workforce. On Halloween alone, 80 percent of air traffic controllers were absent at facilities within the New York City region.
The affected airports span more than two dozen states and include major hubs in Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Houston, and Washington, D.C.. The list also encompasses busy cargo facilities in Memphis, Louisville, and Anchorage, which could disrupt package delivery services for FedEx and UPS.
Additional airports on the FAA’s list include Boston Logan, Newark Liberty, John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, Philadelphia, Phoenix Sky Harbor, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle-Tacoma, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Las Vegas, Cincinnati, and Portland, among others.
Beyond flight capacity reductions, the FAA implemented several other measures to reduce workload on air traffic controllers:
- Prohibition of some visual flight rule approaches at facilities with staffing triggers
- Restriction of commercial space launches and reentries to between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. local time
- Prohibition of parachute operations and photo missions near facilities experiencing staffing shortages
These actions were directly informed by the FAA’s review of aviation safety data, including voluntary, confidential safety reports filed by pilots and air traffic controllers.
Airlines are required to issue full refunds to customers whose flights are canceled under the FAA order. However, carriers are not required to cover secondary costs such as meals and hotel accommodations.
Major airlines have implemented travel waivers allowing passengers to change or cancel flights without penalties. United Airlines is offering refunds to all customers traveling during this period, even if their flights are not directly affected. Delta, American, and Southwest have adopted similar policies for affected markets.
Travelers are advised to check flight status frequently through airline apps and websites, arrive at airports early, and take advantage of penalty-free rebooking options.
The government shutdown began when federal funding expired at midnight on October 1.
Democrats are demanding an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits set to expire December 31 as part of any funding agreement. These enhanced subsidies, first implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, help millions of Americans afford health insurance through ACA marketplaces. Without an extension, healthcare experts warn that premiums could double or triple for many enrollees, potentially causing millions to lose coverage.
Resolutions have failed in the Senate, the last roll call vote taken by the House occurred on September 19, 2025. Since the government shutdown began on October 1, 2025, Johnson has kept the House in continuous recess rather than bringing members back to negotiate a resolution.
