Flight Cancellations Surge as US Shutdown Hits 40 Days, Air Travel Nears Crisis Point

Washington, Nov 2025 : The United States federal government shutdown entered its 40th day on Sunday, pushing the nation’s air travel system into deeper turmoil. More than 2,000 flights were cancelled and over 8,000 delayed nationwide, according to data from FlightAware, as staffing shortages and safety concerns intensify across airports.

The crisis escalated sharply after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began enforcing a mandated flight reduction policy on Friday to cope with dwindling staff availability. Cancellations jumped from 202 on Thursday to 1,025 on Friday, and surged further to 1,566 on Saturday, according to Xinhua.

With the shutdown stretching from October 1, the number of air traffic controllers taking leave has steadily increased, forcing those on duty to endure longer shifts and overtime. In response, the Department of Transportation, along with the FAA, imposed a 10 percent capacity cut at 40 major airports beginning Friday. The move aims to reduce the workload on controllers and mitigate safety risks, but it has added to already mounting delays.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on CNN that the situation may deteriorate dramatically in the coming weeks. “It’s only going to get worse,” he said. “In the two weeks before Thanksgiving, air travel could be reduced to a trickle.”

Economic concerns are also growing. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett told CBS that a steep drop in holiday travel could push the economy toward a negative fourth quarter. “If people don’t travel during Thanksgiving, we really could be looking at a negative quarter,” he cautioned.

At the heart of the shutdown is a political stalemate over the federal budget, which should have been approved by October 1, marking the start of the fiscal year. Instead, Congress remains gridlocked along partisan lines. Lawmakers must pass a continuing resolution to temporarily fund government operations, but the measure remains stuck in the Senate due to a procedural blockade known as the filibuster.

Breaking the filibuster requires 60 votes, far more than a simple majority. With Republicans holding only 53 seats, they cannot advance their preferred funding bill without Democratic support.

As the impasse drags on, its fallout is spreading rapidly—from government employees to the aviation sector and, increasingly, to the broader US economy.

Team Maverick.