FAA eases commercial flight restrictions after shutdown strain, but some limits remain Nation Nov 14, 2025 5:25 PM EST

The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday it plans to roll back some of the restrictions on commercial flights it implemented at 40 major U.S. airports during the shutdown.

The agency says the current mandatory 6% flight cuts are being downgraded to 3% even though the record 43-day shutdown ended Nov. 12. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has repeatedly said restrictions would remain until staffing at air traffic control facilities stabilizes and safety metrics improve.

READ MORE: The shutdown is over, with no winners and much frustration. How did we get here?

The unprecedented order, in place since Nov. 7, has affected thousands of flights. The head of th

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