Washington warns airlines may face 20% flight cuts if shutdown persist
3 Min Read
The US aviation system is facing growing turmoil as the government shutdown forces the FAA to cut flights amid severe air traffic controller shortages.
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A Republic Airways jet takes off from Reagan National Airport in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012. The Capitol is seen across the Potomac River (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cautioned on Friday that airlines could be required to reduce flights by as much as 20% if the government shutdown continues to paralyze key transportation and public service sectors.
The warning reflects mounting structural strain inside the US aviation system, which relies heavily on fully staffed air traffic control centers and continuous FAA operations. With federal funding frozen for a second week, large portions of the Federal Aviation Administration remain shuttered, training programs are halted, and thousands of employees, including air traffic controllers and technical staff, are either working without pay or have been furloughed. The shutdown has aggravated what was already a nationwide staffing shortage, particularly at the country’s busiest hubs, leaving the FAA unable to safely maintain normal traffic levels.
Duffy said his team is "continuously assessing the data," adding that further decisions will depend on the evolving impact on US airspace.
Capacity Cuts
Earlier Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered airlines to cut flights by 4% at 40 major airports. The reductions are set to rise to 6% next Tuesday and 10% by November 14 if the shutdown remains in effect. The FAA clarified that international routes are not included in the cuts. The step mirrors emergency measures used during past government shutdowns, when controller shortages forced capacity limits at major airports to prevent unsafe workloads and system-wide congestion.
According to the Department of Transportation, the first phase of reductions took effect at 11:00 GMT and affected around 700 flights operated by the four largest US carriers: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines.
Delta is temporarily reducing flights at 40 US airports to comply with federal directives. All planned FAA-directed flight cancellations for Nov. 7 and 8 have been completed.
— Delta (@Delta) November 7, 2025
Visit https://t.co/lVlOjYwO0A or the Fly Delta app to check flight status or explore options to change…
Meanwhile, a shortage of air traffic controllers caused widespread delays at nine major airports, including Atlanta, San Francisco, Houston, Phoenix, Washington, and Newark, with more than 2,600 flights delayed by 2 p.m. Eastern Time. Aviation analysts warn that even minor staffing gaps at such hubs can lead to rapid, nationwide gridlock because the US system operates at near-full capacity under normal conditions.
The disruptions come as the US government shutdown enters its second week, heightening pressure on both the administration and the aviation industry in the world’s largest air travel market. Without a resolution, officials say the FAA may have no choice but to impose deeper cuts, as continued furloughs, halted training pipelines, and rising controller fatigue make normal operations increasingly unsustainable.
Read more: US 2025 government shutdown becomes longest in history
