FAA Announces Flight Reductions Amid Government Shutdown
On November 7, 2025, Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced measures to ensure safety in the national airspace during the ongoing government shutdown. The FAA will reduce flights by up to 10% at 40 major airports through November 14.
Since the shutdown began, air traffic controllers have been working without pay, leading to staffing challenges and increased strain reported by both pilots and controllers. Over the past weekend, airports experienced 2,740 delays nationwide.
“My department has many responsibilities, but our number one job is safety. This isn’t about politics – it’s about assessing the data and alleviating building risk in the system as controllers continue to work without pay,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.
“It’s safe to fly today, and it will continue to be safe to fly next week because of the proactive actions we are taking,” added Secretary Duffy.
“We are seeing signs of stress in the system, so we are proactively reducing the number of flights to make sure the American people continue to fly safely,” stated FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.
These steps reflect careful monitoring and adjustments to maintain safety standards despite the operational challenges caused by the shutdown.
Summary: The FAA is proactively reducing flights by up to 10% at 40 airports to uphold safety amid staffing challenges caused by the ongoing government shutdown.