Mass cancellations of flights in the United States are causing chaos for travelers as the government has ordered a reduction in the flight schedule due to a lack of air traffic controllers. This reduction, set to begin on Friday, is a result of the ongoing government shutdown, the longest in US history, which began on October 1 when Congress could not agree on a federal funding bill.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a phased-in reduction plan on Thursday night, stating that domestic flights must be cut by 4% starting at 6am EST on Friday and gradually increasing to 10% by November 14. No international flights have been affected by these planned cancellations.

According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, approximately 1,800 flights will be cancelled, resulting in a reduction of 268,000 seats.

Reason for Cancellations:
The main reason for these flight cancellations is the ongoing government shutdown, now in its second month. This has caused a lack of funding for federal workers, including air traffic controllers who have either been furloughed or are working without pay. The shutdown began due to a standoff between the Republicans and Democrats over healthcare funding and a new funding bill.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the decision to reduce flights in order to alleviate pressure on the industry, as controllers are already working without pay. This reduction is not a political move, but rather a proactive step to ensure safety in the system.

Safety of Flights:
Despite the cancellations, it is still safe to fly. In a statement, Duffy stated that the proactive actions being taken make it safe to fly today, tomorrow, and the days after. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford also reassured the public that the agency will not hesitate to take further action to alleviate pressure on workers, as they continue to monitor the situation.

Affected Airports:
Forty of the busiest airports in the US have been affected, including Anchorage International in Alaska, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International in Georgia, Boston Logan International in Massachusetts, Baltimore/Washington International in Maryland, and many others. These cancellations will mostly affect high-frequency routes in order to minimize disruption for travelers. It is recommended for travelers to buy backup tickets with another airline to avoid being stranded.

Previous Shutdown:
The last government shutdown in January 2019, lasting for 35 days, also caused disruptions in air travel. New York’s LaGuardia airport temporarily suspended travel when air traffic workers called in sick due to not receiving pay. This led to delays at other major airports, prompting the shutdown to temporarily end in February.

Other Services Affected:
In addition to flight cancellations, the shutdown has also affected other critical services, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. While the government had initially planned to freeze payments for the program, a federal judge has ordered emergency funds to be provided to support roughly half of SNAP participants’ current allotments.