Washington, D.C. – American taxpayers are now feeling the brunt of the Trump administration’s ongoing government shutdown, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) slashes domestic flight operations at 40 major U.S. airports, jeopardizing Thanksgiving travel plans for millions of families.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that the FAA ordered a 10% reduction in domestic flights beginning Friday, citing staffing shortages among air traffic controllers due to furloughs and budget freezes. By midday, more than 800 flights had been canceled, and airlines warned that disruptions could stretch into Thanksgiving week if the shutdown persists.
The cuts primarily affect taxpaying travelers on domestic routes, with international flights largely spared — a decision drawing criticism from passenger advocates who argue that “working families are paying the price” for Washington’s gridlock.
“Every canceled flight is a missed connection, a lost holiday, a wasted ticket paid for by ordinary Americans,” said one airline operations official familiar with the FAA directive.
Unions representing air traffic controllers and flight attendants are warning that safety and staffing pressures could worsen, calling on Congress to end the shutdown immediately. Airlines, meanwhile, are scrambling to reroute aircraft and preserve long-haul international services while cutting domestic capacity.
With millions preparing to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, experts warn that “if this shutdown isn’t resolved within days, this could become the most disruptive holiday travel season in over a decade.”
✈️ Airports Impacted by FAA Flight Reductions
🔹 Northeast & Mid-Atlantic:
- New York JFK International (NY)
- New York LaGuardia (NY)
- Newark Liberty International (NJ)
- Philadelphia International (PA)
- Boston Logan International (MA)
- Baltimore/Washington International (MD)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National (DC)
- Washington Dulles International (VA)
- Teterboro Airport (NJ)
🔹 Midwest:
- Chicago O’Hare International (IL)
- Chicago Midway International (IL)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (MI)
- Indianapolis International (IN)
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (KY)
- Louisville International (KY)
- Minneapolis–St. Paul International (MN)
🔹 South & Southeast:
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (GA)
- Charlotte Douglas International (NC)
- Tampa International (FL)
- Miami International (FL)
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FL)
- Orlando International (FL)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International (TX)
- Dallas Love Field (TX)
- Houston Hobby (TX)
- George Bush Intercontinental (TX)
- Memphis International (TN)
🔹 West & Southwest:
- Los Angeles International (CA)
- San Francisco International (CA)
- San Diego International (CA)
- Oakland International (CA)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International (AZ)
- Las Vegas Harry Reid International (NV)
- Salt Lake City International (UT)
- Denver International (CO)
🔹 Pacific & Alaska:
- Portland International (OR)
- Seattle-Tacoma International (WA)
- Honolulu International (HI)
- Anchorage International (AK)
