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Nearly 40 days into the federal government shutdown − the longest continuous shutdown in history − 40 major U.S. airports are reducing their flights by 10% to account for the pressure placed on air traffic controllers who are not being paid.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made the announcement Nov. 5, and Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford told CEOs of major airlines the cuts would begin at 4% on Nov. 7, rise to 5% on Nov. 8 and 6% on Nov. 9 before hitting 10% next week.

Travelers have already been enduring significant flight delays and longer lines at security through the shutdown, which has forced about 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners to work without pay.

Even before the shutdown, the FAA had long been having shortages of air traffic controllers. In May, USA TODAY reported that the FAA was short 3,000 air traffic controllers nationwide.

As Thanksgiving approaches and the United States enters one of its busiest travel weeks, rental car companies like Hertz are reporting a surge in one-way car rentals in the face of flight disruptions.

SOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research, FAA, FlightsFrom.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: FAA reducing flights at 40 major airports amid shutdown: See where

Reporting by Carlie Procell and Stephen J. Beard, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect