Travelers across the United States braced for a turbulent weekend as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began slashing air traffic at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports on November 7, 2025, in a bid to cope with severe staffing shortages among air traffic controllers during the ongoing government shutdown. The unprecedented move, which started with a 4% reduction in flights and is set to climb to 10% by November 14, has already led to hundreds of flight cancellations, mounting delays, and widespread uncertainty for both leisure and business travelers.
The root of the crisis lies in the government shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history at 38 days as of November 7. Air traffic controllers—considered essential workers—have been working mandatory overtime, six days a week, without pay. Their exhaustion and mounting financial strain have resulted in increased sick calls and a diminished workforce, forcing the FAA to take drastic measures to maintain safety in the skies. "We’re in new territory in terms of government shutdowns," FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford remarked, reflecting on his nearly four decades in aviation, according to NPR.
The impact has been immediate and far-reaching. According to FlightAware, nearly 500 flights were canceled on the first day of the cuts, with Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines accounting for the majority. United alone announced plans to cancel about 20 roundtrip flights daily in Houston, primarily affecting its United Express routes, as reported by KHOU. Delta canceled approximately 170 flights, while American and Southwest also trimmed their schedules. Southwest, in particular, has tried to ease the blow by automatically rebooking passengers where possible and offering refunds to those unable to travel. United and Delta have similarly offered refunds, even for tickets that are typically nonrefundable.
Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports are among the 40 major hubs affected, with security wait times stretching up to an hour. The ripple effect extends beyond Houston: Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Miami International, and all three New York-area airports are also on the list, along with regional airports like Palm Springs International and smaller markets such as Moline, Illinois, and Shreveport, Louisiana. The FAA’s order, released late Thursday before the reductions took effect, lays out a phased approach—starting with a 4% cut and building to 10% by the following Friday. Airlines have some discretion in how they implement these reductions, but most are prioritizing the protection of their most profitable and high-traffic routes, often at the expense of regional and less frequented destinations.
For travelers, the uncertainty is palpable. NPR captured the anxiety of passengers like Ellen Silva, who worried about missing work if her return flight from Atlanta to Baltimore was canceled, and Patricia Andeweg, who missed a connecting flight for her 90th birthday celebration in Australia due to shutdown-induced delays. "I'm missing my birthday," Andeweg told GBH, "but on the other hand, I met so many helpful people, right, left and center. I call it the journey to nowhere."
With Thanksgiving fast approaching, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that the pain is unlikely to subside soon—even if the shutdown were to end immediately. “So if the government opens on day one, will I see an immediate response from controllers? No, the union is telling me it’s going to take time to get them all back in,” Duffy told CNN. He added, "I don’t wish this was the circumstance in which I was dealing with." The FAA echoed these concerns, noting that the fatigue and financial hardship among controllers would not be instantly alleviated by a return to normal operations.
The implications extend beyond passenger travel. As Syracuse University supply chain expert Patrick Penfield explained to NBC News, "Forty percent to 50% of all air freight is shipped in the belly of passenger planes. If you eliminate 10% of airline capacity, air freight prices will rise, and we could see delays in getting materials via air." This could spell trouble for retailers hoping to restock popular items in time for the holiday shopping rush. Additionally, the FAA has imposed temporary limits on commercial space launches, which also require the attention of air traffic controllers.
The situation has prompted a flurry of political finger-pointing. Some lawmakers, like U.S. Representative Steve Cohen of Tennessee, have accused the Trump administration of leveraging the flight reductions for political gain, attempting to pressure Democrats into accepting budget cuts. Cohen nonetheless conceded that the move was "prudent" given the strain on air traffic controllers. On the other side, industry leaders such as Chris Sununu, president and CEO of Airlines for America, insisted to NPR that "it's all in the name of safety... They're doing that because they know safety is absolutely paramount, pressures are absolutely growing."
Airlines have tried to downplay the disruption. Delta claims it will operate "the vast majority of our schedule," while American’s Chief Operating Officer David Seymour told employees that most reductions would focus on regional flying. United’s David Kinzelman likened the impact to a "medium-sized storm," noting that airlines are accustomed to operational adjustments. But, as Kinzelman admitted, "there is no exact precedent for a reduction in air traffic across so many airports at the same time."
The FAA’s selection process for which airports to target remains somewhat opaque. Administrator Bedford indicated that the agency relied on internal safety metrics and pilot reports, aiming to be "prescriptive, surgical" in applying relief where it’s needed most. Still, some airports with known shortages, like Austin and Nashville, were left off the list, while others, such as Anchorage, Alaska—a major cargo hub—were included despite no reported staffing issues. The cuts apply only to domestic flights, leaving international routes untouched for now.
As the reductions rolled out, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association highlighted the toll on its members. President Nick Daniels described the situation as "unprecedented to go through two full paychecks, 37 days, and receive no compensation," adding that many controllers simply lack the means to get to work. The stress has led to record numbers of facilities reporting staffing limits: from an average of 8.3 per weekend before the shutdown to at least 39 facilities over the most recent weekend, according to an Associated Press analysis.
Looking ahead, officials warn that if the shutdown continues, flight cancellations could double, reaching up to 1,800 flights and 268,000 seats lost. Transportation Secretary Duffy even floated the possibility of 20% reductions at some airports if the crisis deepens—a scenario he hopes to avoid. For now, travelers are urged to check their flight statuses frequently, expect longer lines, and brace for further disruptions as the nation’s air travel system weathers a storm of its own making.
While the skies remain open, the path forward is anything but clear, with airlines, passengers, and air traffic controllers all hoping for a swift resolution to the standoff in Washington that has grounded so much more than just flights.
