WASHINGTON D.C. – The United States government will begin reducing domestic air travel by up to 10% at 40 of its busiest airports from Friday, November 7, 2025, in response to growing safety concerns linked to the longest government shutdown in the nation's history. The move, announced by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford, is expected to result in thousands of cancelled flights nationwide.

The decision comes as the federal government shutdown entered its 36th day on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, surpassing the previous 35-day record set in 2018-2019. The political impasse in the U.S. Congress over a funding budget has left approximately 1.4 million federal workers, including thousands of air traffic controllers, working without pay since October 1, 2025.

Safety Concerns Drive Drastic Measures

Officials have cited mounting fatigue and stress among unpaid air traffic controllers as the primary reason for the flight reductions. "Our number one job is safety. This isn't about politics – it's about assessing the data and alleviating building risk in the system as controllers continue to work without pay," Secretary Duffy stated on Wednesday, November 5. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford echoed these concerns, stating, "We are seeing signs of stress in the system, so we are proactively reducing the number of flights to make sure the American people continue to fly safely."

The FAA has reported an increase in staffing shortages and controller callouts due to the financial strain of missed paychecks, with some employees reportedly taking on second jobs. This has led to concerns about maintaining the safety and efficiency of the world's most complex airspace. The flight reductions will be phased in, starting with a 4% cut on Friday and ramping up to the full 10% by Friday, November 14, if the shutdown continues.

Impact on Travellers and Kenyan Interests

The flight cancellations will affect major hubs including airports in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta. While the FAA's order does not mandate the cancellation of international flights, the disruption to domestic routes could have a cascading effect, causing delays and connection issues for international passengers, including those travelling to and from Kenya. An analysis by aviation firm Cirium estimated that the cuts could eliminate as many as 1,800 flights per day.

For Kenya, the disruptions could pose challenges for its significant horticultural export market, which relies on timely air cargo to the U.S. Furthermore, the United States is a key source of tourists for Kenya, and prolonged travel uncertainty could deter visitors, impacting the local tourism and hospitality sectors. Kenya Airways operates direct flights between Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, a route critical for both business and leisure travel. While major U.S. airlines have indicated that long-haul international flights will not be their priority for cancellation, the potential for knock-on effects remains a concern.

A Historic Political Stalemate

The current shutdown began on October 1, 2025, after the U.S. Congress failed to agree on a government funding bill. The stalemate has furloughed hundreds of thousands of federal workers and forced many more, deemed "essential," to work without pay. The economic impact is significant, with the U.S. Travel Association estimating a potential cost to the travel economy of $1 billion per week.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, appointed by President Donald Trump, and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, who was confirmed in July 2025, have emphasized that the flight reductions are a necessary, proactive safety measure. However, the situation highlights the far-reaching consequences of the political deadlock in Washington. As airlines begin to implement the FAA's directive, travellers are being urged to check their flight status frequently. The full impact on both the U.S. domestic travel system and international connections will become clearer in the coming days as the historic shutdown continues with no immediate resolution in sight.