Trump Shutdown Cuts Flights at 40 Major U.S. Airports Ahead of Thanksgiving
Flights will be reduced by 10 percent at 40 airports across the United States due to the ongoing government shutdown, affecting Thanksgiving travel plans. Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation under President Donald Trump, announced the reductions on Wednesday.
Flight Reductions and Timeline
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) informed major carriers of a phased schedule for cuts:
- 4% reduction starting Friday
- 5% reduction on Saturday
- 6% reduction on Sunday
- 10% reduction beginning next week
International flights are not affected by these cuts.
Reasons Behind the Reductions
Duffy explained that the shutdown’s strain is impacting air traffic controllers' ability to maintain safety. He stated,
“We had a gut check of what is our job. Our job is to make sure we make the hard decisions to continue to keep the airspace safe.”
The cuts are a consequence of 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA agents working without pay during the shutdown. Duffy blamed Democrats for the shutdown and insisted that flights would fully resume if the government reopened.
Impact on Travelers
So far, 3.2 million air travelers have experienced flight delays and cancellations due to the ongoing closure. The shutdown, now in its 36th day, has seen Republican officials consistently hold Democrats responsible for the disruption.
Expected Affected Airports
While the specific 40 airports were not officially disclosed, CBS News reported an anticipated list of impacted locations.
Summary: The government shutdown under President Trump's administration is causing significant flight reductions at major U.S. airports just before Thanksgiving, with safety concerns cited as the main reason and blame placed on Democrats to end the shutdown.
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