11/12/2025

U.S. Warns It Could Force 20 Percent Flight Cuts if Shutdown Continues

Cuts would include some 700 flights from the four largest carriers

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Friday he could force airlines to cut up to 20 percent of flights if the government shutdown did not end, as U.S. airlines on Friday scrambled to make unprecedented government-imposed reductions.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) instructed airlines to cut 4 percent of flights on Friday at 40 major airports because of the government shutdown. The cuts will rise to 10 percent by Nov. 14. The threat of extortion has yet to be charged, some close to the matter indicated. During the record 38-day government shutdown, 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners have been forced to work without pay, leading to increased absenteeism. Many air traffic controllers were notified on Thursday they would receive no pay for a second pay period next week.

The Trump administration has sought to ramp up pressure on Democrats in Congress to agree to a Republican plan to fund the federal government while failing to provide subsidies for ACA marketplace users, which would allow the government to reopen.

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