The FAA will slash air traffic by 10% in 40 major U.S. markets starting Friday, citing growing safety concerns as unpaid air traffic controllers show signs of strain during the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

With air traffic controllers working six-day weeks without pay since the shutdown began on October 1, the Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday that it would cut flight operations in top-volume zones to prevent a potential crisis. Advertisement

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, alongside U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, warned of rising fatigue, absences, and staffing shortages—factors that have already triggered delays at several U.S. airports.

“We're not going to wait for a safety problem to truly manifest itself,” Bedford said, referencing ear

See Full Page