The Trump administration announced Wednesday that flights will be reduced by up to 10% at 40 major U.S. airports as the government shutdown enters its sixth week, threatening to disrupt Thanksgiving travel plans for millions of Americans.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the decision comes amid growing safety concerns for air traffic controllers and TSA agents, thousands of whom are now working without pay.
“We had a gut check of what is our job,” Duffy said. “Our job is to make the hard decisions to keep the airspace safe.”
According to internal documents reviewed by Reuters, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told airlines that reductions will begin at 4% on Friday, rise to 5% on Saturday, 6% on Sunday, and reach 10% by next week. International flights will not be affected.
(reuters.com)
Airports Facing Reductions
While the Department of Transportation did not release the official list, CBS News reported that the 40 airports expected to face flight cuts include nearly every major U.S. hub:
- Anchorage International (ANC)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
- Boston Logan International (BOS)
- Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)
- Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)
- Dallas Love (DAL)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)
- Denver International (DEN)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
- Newark Liberty International (EWR)
- Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International (FLL)
- Honolulu International (HNL)
- Houston Hobby (HOU)
- Washington Dulles International (IAD)
- George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH)
- Indianapolis International (IND)
- New York John F Kennedy International (JFK)
- Las Vegas Harry Reid International (LAS)
- Los Angeles International (LAX)
- New York LaGuardia (LGA)
- Orlando International (MCO)
- Chicago Midway (MDW)
- Memphis International (MEM)
- Miami International (MIA)
- Minneapolis/St Paul International (MSP)
- Oakland International (OAK)
- Ontario International (ONT)
- Chicago O`Hare International (ORD)
- Portland International (PDX)
- Philadelphia International (PHL)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)
- San Diego International (SAN)
- Louisville International (SDF)
- Seattle/Tacoma International (SEA)
- San Francisco International (SFO)
- Salt Lake City International (SLC)
- Teterboro (TEB)
- Tampa International (TPA)
- Source: (cbsnews.com)
The cuts come as 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers continue working without pay. FAA officials said the partial reductions are intended to prevent burnout and reduce staffing risks during the holiday surge.
Duffy Blames Democrats for Shutdown Fallout
Duffy, echoing President Trump’s remarks earlier this week, placed full responsibility on Democrats for the airline disruption.
“Flights will be fully restored the moment Democrats reopen the government,” Duffy said, adding that “the President is not going to sign another bloated spending bill that ignores border security and drives up costs.”
Democrats pushed back, arguing the administration could have prioritized critical aviation staffing earlier in the shutdown to avoid this cascading disruption.
A spokesperson for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told ABC News that “Republicans are manufacturing chaos” by refusing to negotiate on health care and other funding priorities.
Thanksgiving Chaos Looms
The announcement has sent shockwaves through the airline industry, which was already facing record-high bookings for the Thanksgiving holiday period. According to FAA tracking data, 3.2 million travelers have already faced delays or cancellations since the shutdown began. (flightaware.com)
Airlines are now preparing for the possibility of reduced capacity and longer lines at major hubs starting this weekend. Travelers may experience delays not only at security checkpoints but also in air traffic sequencing, as fewer controllers manage increasingly crowded skies.
“Even a 5–10% cut in scheduled flights can ripple through the system,” said aviation analyst Henry Harteveldt. “Once you’re in peak travel season, there’s no easy fix.”
Bottom Line
- The Trump administration will cut flights by 10% at 40 U.S. airports beginning this week due to the ongoing government shutdown.
- Thanksgiving travel will likely face significant delays and cancellations as air traffic and TSA staffing remain strained.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed Democrats for the crisis, while airlines brace for millions more affected travelers.
With no funding agreement in sight, America’s skies — and its politics — remain gridlocked.