Amid Ongoing Government Shutdown FAA Announces Planned Flight Reductions at 40 Major Airports by Reducing Flights Up To 10% by November 14

FAA Announces Flight Reductions Amid Government Shutdown

On November 7, 2025, Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford announced plans to reduce flights by up to 10% at 40 major airports nationwide by November 14. This measure aims to maintain safety standards during the ongoing government shutdown.

Impact of the Government Shutdown on Air Traffic

Since the shutdown began, air traffic controllers have been working without pay, leading to increasing staffing concerns at facilities across the country. Both pilots and controllers have reported growing strain on the system, with 2,740 delays recorded this past weekend alone.

FAA’s Proactive Safety Measures

“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 Secretary 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.”

“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,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.

Summary

The FAA is temporarily decreasing flight volumes at busy airports to manage operational stress caused by the shutdown while ensuring passenger safety remains the top priority.

Author's summary: The FAA is cutting flights at major airports by 10% amid the government shutdown to manage operational strain and maintain safety as controllers work without pay.

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Sierra Sun Times Sierra Sun Times — 2025-11-07

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