Washington— The United States government has imposed new flight restrictions as the ongoing federal shutdown entered its 36th day, making it the longest in the nation’s history. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that starting Friday, a 10% reduction in flight capacity will take effect across 40 major locations, impacting nearly 4,000 flights nationwide.
According to Fox Business, the move comes amid rising safety concerns and severe staffing shortages at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Duffy said a detailed list of affected airports will be released on Thursday. “We are slowing down flight operations to ensure safety. It’s not ideal, but it’s necessary to prevent accidents,” Duffy stated, stressing that safety remains the top priority.
The shutdown, which began on October 1, has left about 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers working without pay for more than a month. The staff crisis has forced the Department of Transportation (DOT) to consider more drastic steps, including potential airspace closures if the situation worsens.
“We will restrict the airspace when we feel it’s not safe,” Duffy warned earlier, admitting the aviation system is “stretched to its limits.” He also highlighted that staffing shortages have become a major cause of flight disruptions, accounting for nearly 46% of all delays, up from the usual 5%.
According to FlightAware data, over 10,000 flights within, into, or out of the US were delayed last weekend, with another 4,700 delays reported on Monday. Nearly half of America’s 30 busiest airports are currently operating below required staffing levels, the FAA confirmed.
Despite the growing pressure, Duffy expressed empathy for unpaid workers. “They’re heads of households, with families to feed and bills to pay,” he said. “We’ve asked them to show up for work, but I understand the hardship they’re under.”
The aviation crisis underscores the far-reaching impact of the government shutdown, which has crippled several federal agencies and disrupted vital transportation operations across the country.
