CLEVELAND — The Federal Aviation Administration announced it will reduce air traffic by 10% across 40 major markets nationwide starting Friday morning.

The FAA says staffing shortages and safety concerns are driving the decision. Air traffic controllers have been working without pay since the government shutdown began, with some calling out sick — leading to delays across the country.

Jason Lorenzen, assistant professor of aeronautics at Kent State University, says the FAA's move is proactive.

"It's to alleviate a lot of that strain so we don't have an accident," Lorenzen told 3News. "That's the big thing: We want to keep everybody safe. That is the big issue here."

While it's not clear which airports will be impacted by this, Lorenzen expects it to involve major hubs.

"Like Newark,

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