Record Federal Government Shutdown Continues

As of November 7, 2025, the ongoing federal government shutdown has reached its 38th day. On this date, the situation escalated, forcing 40 major airports to cut back on air traffic, resulting in over 840 flight cancellations across the nation.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) attributed this drastic measure to an alarming shortage of unpaid air traffic controllers. Consequently, airlines were instructed to lessen their domestic flight operations by 4% starting at 6 a.m. ET, with an expected increase to 10% by November 14 if the budget deadlock continues.

At Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy advocated for the phased reduction, calling it a “data-driven safety measure” suggested by FAA experts. He emphasized that safety was his primary concern, dismissing the notion that political factors were at play, although he pointed fingers at Democrats for extending the budget impasse over social safety net issues involving undocumented immigrants.

Later that day, Duffy warned that if controller absenteeism worsens, the reductions could escalate to 15% or even 20%. This could lead to even more significant flight cancellations, potentially impacting Thanksgiving travel plans for many Americans.

The ongoing shutdown has left more than 800,000 federal employees furloughed, with air traffic controllers and TSA personnel working without pay. The FAA’s emergency directive, which came to light Thursday evening, targeted “high-volume markets” across 27 states and Washington, D.C., temporarily halting international flights to contain any broader impacts. Reductions began at 4%, then surged to 6%, 8%, and eventually capped at 10% on Friday.

Airlines rushed to adapt, primarily focusing on cutting short-haul domestic flights and providing refunds and fare waivers for affected travelers. Overall, over 840 cancellations amounted to about 3% of the more than 25,000 scheduled flights that day. Analysts from flight tracking services noted that while the current impact was manageable, the situation could worsen as the cuts intensified.

Delays were reported, particularly at O’Hare (ORD) and Newark (EWR), with wait times averaging around 45 minutes before noon. Additionally, TSA lines at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) stretched over an hour.

The shutdown’s effects are felt most acutely among the 40 impacted airports, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), and Los Angeles International (LAX). The potential loss of connecting flights could create challenges for smaller airports, especially during Thanksgiving, traditionally the busiest travel season of the year, as bookings start to surge amidst the ongoing budget concerns in Washington.