The longest government shutdown in U.S. history is forcing the Trump administration to slash domestic flights by up to 20%, threatening to reduce Thanksgiving travel to “a trickle” as unpaid air traffic controllers abandon their posts.
Story Snapshot
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warns air travel will be reduced to “a trickle” before Thanksgiving due to the government shutdown.
- The Trump administration ordered airlines to cut 4% of domestic flights, escalating to 10% next Friday if the shutdown continues.
- Over 14,792 U.S. flights were delayed and 3,788 were canceled this weekend due to air traffic controller shortages.
- Air traffic controllers are working without pay during the longest shutdown in U.S. history, forcing some to take second jobs.
Government Shutdown Triggers Historic Flight Cuts
The Trump administration ordered airlines to cut 4% of domestic flights at 40 major U.S. airports starting November 7, 2025, with cuts escalating to 10% by November 14 if the shutdown continues. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Fox News that cuts could eventually reach 20% of schedules.
Government officials attributed the unprecedented action to “increased reports of strain on the system from both pilots and air traffic controllers” caused by the ongoing government shutdown.
Breaking: Flight cancellations will likely grow if the government shutdown continues, Transportation secretary Sean Duffy warns.
"It's only going to get worse," he said in an interview on CNN. "I look to the two weeks before Thanksgiving, you're going to see air travel be… pic.twitter.com/aQW0mvp3bm
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) November 9, 2025
Air Traffic Controllers Work Without Pay
Air traffic controllers and airport security screeners remain required to work during the shutdown without receiving regular paychecks. Federal workers will miss their second full paycheck on Monday, according to union officials. Some controllers have taken second jobs to make ends meet as the financial strain intensifies.
This situation exemplifies government mismanagement, forcing essential workers to choose between national security duties and personal financial survival during bureaucratic gridlock.
Weekend Travel Chaos Spreads Nationwide
Air traffic controller shortages caused widespread disruptions at major airports, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, San Francisco International, JFK, Newark Liberty International, Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental, Charlotte Douglas International, and Chicago O’Hare.
Airlines for America reported that 71% of Saturday’s delay time resulted from air traffic staffing shortfalls. Almost 2,200 U.S. flights were canceled Saturday alone, representing 7% of the day’s schedule, according to aviation-data firm Cirium.
Thanksgiving Travel Crisis Looms
Transportation Secretary Duffy warned on CNN’s “State of the Union” that air travel will worsen significantly before Thanksgiving on November 27. “Many of them are not going to be able to get on an airplane, because there are not going to be that many flights,” Duffy stated.
The timing threatens one of the year’s busiest travel periods, with millions of Americans planning holiday trips. Airlines waived date-change fees for affected travelers and noted refund availability.
Economic Impact Spreads Beyond Airlines
The flight cuts are creating ripple effects throughout the transportation sector during what should be a low travel season. Hertz reported a 20% increase in one-way car rentals over the same two-day period from the previous year following the FAA’s announcement.
Seaport Research Partners airline analyst Daniel McKenzie noted that the impact for airlines could quadruple during the high-demand Thanksgiving period when fares spike significantly, demonstrating how government dysfunction directly harms the private sector economy.
