FAA Announces Planned Flight Reductions Amid Government Shutdown
November 7, 2025 - WASHINGTON, D.C. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford have announced measures to ensure safety in the national airspace system during the ongoing government shutdown.
The FAA plans to temporarily reduce flights by up to 10% at 40 major airports across the United States by November 14. This decision responds to growing operational strains as air traffic controllers continue working without pay, leading to increased staffing challenges.
Current Impact on Air Traffic
Since the shutdown began, reports of system stress have increased from both pilots and controllers. This past weekend alone, airports experienced 2,740 flight delays nationwide.
“My department has many responsibilities, but our number one job is safety. This isn’t about politics – it’s about assessing the data and alleviating building risk in the system as controllers continue to work without pay,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.
“It’s safe to fly today, and it will continue to be safe to fly next week because of the proactive actions we are taking,” he added.
FAA's Safety Priorities
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford emphasized proactive steps to manage system stress:
- Reducing flights by up to 10% at high-traffic airports
- Ensuring continued safe operations despite staffing pressures
“We are seeing signs of stress in the system, so we are proactively reducing the number of flights to make sure the American people continue to fly safely,” Bedford stated.
The FAA’s response aims to balance operational capacity with safety during an unprecedented staffing and funding challenge.
Author's Summary
The FAA is cutting flights by up to 10% at 40 major airports to maintain safety amid ongoing government shutdown staffing challenges affecting air traffic controllers.