(UNITED STATES) The Federal Aviation Administration will impose a 10% flight reduction at 40 major U.S. airports starting Friday, November 7, 2025, citing safety risks from a prolonged government shutdown that has left air traffic controllers working without pay and stretched schedules.
The phased cuts will hit some of the nation’s busiest hubs, and officials warned that airlines will need to cancel or reschedule thousands of trips as the plan ramps up over the next week. Passengers are told to expect delays and last‑minute changes as the system absorbs fewer takeoffs and landings.
Why the cut was ordered
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the decision was driven by safety and data, not politics.
“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,” Duffy said.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford echoed that assessment, noting early warning signs required a firm response:
“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. We just can’t ignore it, when the early indicators are telling us we can take action today to prevent things from deteriorating.”
How the reduction will be phased
The schedule is designed to step down in stages before reaching the full 10% reduction next week. The FAA described the ramp-up as follows:
- 4% reduction on November 7
- 6% reduction by November 11
- 8% reduction by November 13
- 10% reduction on November 14
FAA leaders say the gradual approach should give airlines time to rebuild schedules and move crews and aircraft where needed, while keeping daily operations as stable as possible.
Which airports are affected
The order applies to 40 major U.S. airports, including:
- Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta (ATL)
- Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- New York JFK (JFK)
- Newark (EWR)
- George Bush Houston (IAH)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)
Plus 32 other major hubs spread across the country. These airports anchor national connectivity, so even modest cuts can ripple through regional routes and smaller communities. The FAA said final distribution of reductions across airports will be guided by:
- Traffic patterns
- Staffing levels
- Time‑of‑day risk
Staffing pressures and system stress
The shutdown is now in its sixth week, and the controller corps was already short more than 3,000 certified air traffic controllers before the budget standoff began.
In NPR interviews, controllers (who withheld names for fear of retaliation) described morale as “already low before the government shutdown, due to a longstanding staffing shortage across the system, mandatory overtime and stagnating wages.” One Midwest controller said, “I think we’re reaching a tipping point. This is kind of about the point in the last shutdown where people just started getting fed up with it.”
Bedford said he could not recall a similar situation in his 35 years in aviation: “We’re in a new territory in terms of government shutdowns, and we look forward to a time when we can get back to business as usual.”
Immediate operational impacts
The near‑term impact is already visible:
- The FAA reported 2,740 delays over the past weekend.
- Airlines are preparing for additional cancellations and reschedules as they incorporate the phased cuts into daily operations.
Carrier refund and cost policies:
- Airlines must provide full refunds for canceled flights.
- Airlines are not obligated to cover secondary costs (hotels, meals), increasing the likelihood of out‑of‑pocket expenses for some travelers.
Secretary Duffy acknowledged the strain: “Our heart goes out to those who will have flights disrupted. This is what we feel like we have to do to make sure we maintain that safety profile.”
Limits on procedures and special operations
To reduce workload and protect separation standards, the FAA will also limit certain procedures:
- Prohibit some visual flight rule approaches in busy terminal areas
- Restrict commercial space launches to nighttime hours when traffic is lighter
- Ban parachute and photo missions near affected facilities
Officials said these steps, combined with the flight reductions, lower the chance of human error during periods when fatigue and staffing stress are elevated.
How airlines are likely to respond
Airlines face difficult choices about which flights to cut and how to redeploy crews. Expected patterns:
- Peak periods at the largest hubs will likely see the deepest trims.
- Carriers will protect long‑haul and international connections while trimming short‑haul frequencies.
- Multiple daily options on some routes may be consolidated to fewer departures.
- Early adjustments typically remove overlapping flights first, consolidating demand onto remaining departures (analysis by VisaVerge.com).
Passengers should expect earlier and later flights to fill quickly as remaining seats concentrate demand.
Advice for travelers
Ticket‑holders are urged to:
- Watch for airline notifications and rebook quickly if flights change
- Leave extra time, keep itineraries flexible, and pack patience
- Prefer early‑morning flights where delays tend to be shorter (though some early departures could be trimmed)
- Check airline waiver policies posted on carrier websites; availability will depend on demand
With controllers working overtime and many taking second jobs to cover missed paychecks, the FAA will publish daily guidance to carriers and coordinate across regions to minimize last‑minute changes. Still, Bedford cautioned that staffing realities could force tactical adjustments on the day of operation, especially in bad weather or if a critical position goes unfilled.
Safety, labor concerns, and the long view
Labor leaders and aviation safety advocates have long warned that sustained understaffing erodes even experienced teams. Key points:
- Controllers manage complex flows and make fast decisions under pressure.
- Mandatory overtime increases fatigue.
- Prolonged uncertainty about pay undermines retention.
The FAA said the flight reduction helps align workload with available staffing and gives supervisors more room to space arrivals and departures safely, particularly during peak bank times at hub airports that move tens of thousands of passengers daily across the United States 🇺🇸.
“The American people deserve a safe system,” Bedford said. “This is the responsible choice while our workforce continues to do its job under very hard conditions.”
Duration and where to get updates
Federal officials did not offer an end date for the cuts, saying the flight reduction will remain in place until staffing stabilizes and risk indicators improve.
The FAA encouraged the public to follow updates posted by the Federal Aviation Administration and from airlines. Agency leaders stressed the national airspace remains safe and that the action is designed to keep it that way.
Closing note
As the shutdown drags on, airports, airlines, and travelers will carry the load. The FAA said it will work with carriers to smooth schedules and avoid uneven impacts on any single region. Officials thanked air traffic controllers and other front‑line staff for keeping planes moving through long shifts and uncertain pay.
Whether the cuts last days or weeks, the system will look different: slightly fewer planes in the sky, more room between arrivals and departures, and a shared bet that a measured slowdown today prevents a more serious problem tomorrow.
This Article in a Nutshell
The FAA will enact a phased 10% flight reduction at 40 major U.S. airports starting November 7, 2025, due to safety concerns from a prolonged government shutdown leaving controllers unpaid and staffing already below needs. The cuts increase from 4% to 10% over a week to reduce controller workload and lower risk. Airlines must issue full refunds for canceled flights; secondary traveler costs may not be covered. The FAA will limit some procedures, coordinate daily with carriers, and maintain reductions until staffing and risk indicators improve.
