FAA reductions in air traffic enter third day as US flights delayed and canceled
Flight delays and cancellations are piling up Sunday across the U.S. after the Federal Aviation Administration cut flights at 40 U.S. airports on Friday following a monthlong government shutdown.
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U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaks to reporters during a visit at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on November 07, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
In a social media post Sunday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of "playing politics" over the government shutdown and the travel-related issues that have arisen from it.
In the X post, Duffy argued that the New York senator "voted 14 times to keep the government closed."
"14 times he refused to pay air traffic controllers," Duffy's post said. "14 times to keep Americans’ flights delayed. 14 times to use public pain as leverage. And then he says every day gets better!"
Duffy also attached a video of a recent CNN clip where he explained his reasoning for reducing flights and air traffic controllers.
"I have more complaints coming into the FAA from pilots who are saying that air traffic controllers are not as responsive, they seem stressed, or they're not using the appropriate language because they're under pressure," the official said.
"So I look at that data. That came from the safety team, and the trend line is going in the wrong direction. So I need to take action and make sure that we keep people safe."
In a Nov. 7 X post, Schumer blamed Republicans for the shutdown and said that "the ball is in their court."
"Democrats made an offer to Republicans to re-open the government and extend the ACA tax credits for one year," wrote Schumer. "We’re calling their bluff."
Travelers wait in line at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston, Texas, US, on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. (Photographer: Mark Felix/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The Republican Study Committee (RSC), the largest conservative caucus in the House of Representatives, warned of worsening travel issues on Sunday amid government shutdown-related airport chaos.
The committee, which is chaired by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, published an X post on Sunday detailing "thousands of flights [being] canceled across the country."
"At Atlanta’s airport, normally the world's busiest airport, 18 of 22 air traffic controllers didn’t show up for work," the committee's post read. "With Thanksgiving just two weeks away, the chaos is only going to get worse."
The RSC then accused Democrats of "using the shutdown as political leverage against the American people."
"Enough is enough," the post concluded. "It’s time to reopen the government."
Travelers wait in line at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston, Texas, US, on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. (Photographer: Mark Felix/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Over 2,100 flights were canceled on Sunday due to the ongoing government shutdown and the FAA's recent order to scale back air traffic, according to The Associated Press.
The cancellations, which impact 40 U.S. airports, were reported by the AP at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday. The outlet also reported 7,000 additional delays on Sunday.
More than 1,500 flights were canceled Saturday, following over 1,000 flights that were canceled Friday.
The Associated Press contributed to this update.
FlightAware data shows that among the four major carriers — Southwest, United, American and Delta — Delta has recorded the highest number of flight cancellations nationwide over the course of a week.
Atlanta-based Delta reported more than 800 cancellations and nearly 4,700 delayed flights. Meanwhile, Dallas-based carrier Southwest Airlines reported more than 493 cancellations and nearly 6,907 delayed flights.
(FlightAware/Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)
United Airlines averaged 56 daily cancellations and 734 delays, the lowest disruption levels among the four major U.S. carriers.
Flight disruptions are climbing sharply across the U.S., with delays and cancellations far exceeding normal levels amid mounting pressure on the aviation system from the ongoing government shutdown.
The data shows that flight delays consistently topped 4,000 per day, reaching a peak of 8,800 delays on October 26.
Cancellations, meanwhile, began relatively low in mid-October but nearly doubled by early November, surging to 2,198 on November 9, the highest single-day total during the 30-day period.
(FlightAware/Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)
For context, FlightAware data indicates that the U.S. averaged roughly 5,600 daily delays and about 340 cancellations last year, underscoring the ongoing strain across the nation’s aviation system.
Former Republican New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu on Sunday made a plea to air traffic controllers to keep showing up to work amid the government shutdown, saying that the national airspace “really needs” them. .
Sununu, who is now the CEO of Airlines for America, appeared on “Fox News Live” to discuss how the ongoing government shutdown, now in its 40th day, has prompted flight delays and cancellations nationwide.
“If you’re a controller and you’re listening, we need you at work,” he said, adding that “hopefully” Congress “does what they need to do” to get the air traffic controllers paid.
Sununu warned that air travel cancellations and delays may get “exponentially worse” as the week goes on, though encouraged Americans not to cancel their Thanksgiving travel plans.
“Keep your plans, keep booking, by all means,” he said. “I do believe this is going to get resolved before Thanksgiving.”
Sununu added: “Believe it or not, even Capitol Hill, I believe, is listening.”
The former governor further urged lawmakers of both parties to get the government open and “say yes at the next vote.”
“Look at what’s happening to your constituents,” he said. “Look at what's happening to the American public.”
People wait in line at a security checkpoint at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport on November 06, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Sunday that the ongoing government shutdown could ripple across the country’s busiest travel week.
In an interview on ABC’s “This Week,” Bessent said the standoff on Capitol Hill, now the longest shutdown yet, could disrupt air travel as millions of Americans head out for the Thanksgiving holiday.
“We’re going to have the busiest travel day of the year right after Thanksgiving and Americans should look to five Democratic senators to come across the aisle,” he said, placing the blame squarely on Democrats for the ongoing funding impasse.
Bessent also warned that the shutdown’s impact could extend beyond passenger travel, slowing cargo shipments and potentially leading to product shortages.
“Cargo and people are both being slowed down here and that’s for safety’s sake,” he said, noting that supply chains and holiday deliveries could be affected.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaks at a news conference to announce flight cancellations across the country because of the government shutdown Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025 at the U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters in Washington. (AP Photo/Matthew Daly)
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Sunday warned that air travel across the U.S. will worsen in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, noting that a “substantial” number of Americans may not be able to travel at all for the busy holiday.
Duffy made the remarks during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” as the government shutdown hit day 40 – the longest in history.
“To answer your question, it's only going to get worse,” Duffy said of air travel. “I look to the two weeks before Thanksgiving, you're going to see air travel be reduced to a trickle.”
When asked if there was numerical data estimating how many Americans may not be able to visit their families during the year’s busiest travel holiday, Duffy replied that the current situation would impact a sizeable number of Americans.
“I think the number is going to be substantial,” Duffy said, adding that the air travel situation has “only gotten worse as we've gone through the shutdown.”
Duffy said the shutdown has led to a shortage of air traffic controllers. The shortage has directly impacted flights, though Duffy noted that the impacts could linger well beyond when the government opens again.
“I used to have about four controllers retire a day before the shutdown. I'm now up to 15 to 20 a day are retiring,” Duffy said. “So it's going to be harder for me to come back after the shutdown and have more controllers controlling the airspace. So this is going to live on in air travel well beyond the timeframe that this government opens back up.”
East Coast hubs such as Newark, Washington, D.C. and Boston reported among the highest flight delays, with major airports in Chicago, Dallas–Fort Worth, Los Angeles and Atlanta also experiencing widespread disruptions.
(FlightAware/Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)
Since Thursday, Chicago O’Hare has recorded the most flight delays among the 30 core U.S. airports, with 3,863, followed by Newark Liberty International in New Jersey with 2,826, according to FlightAware data.
With Camelback Mountain in the background American Airlines jets sit on the tarmac at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
U.S. airlines canceled 1,330 flights on Saturday, the second day of FAA-mandated service reductions tied to the ongoing government shutdown, according to Reuters.
FAA began enforcing 4% daily cuts on Friday, a number that will rise to 6% on Tuesday and hit 10% by Nov. 14 if the shutdown continues.
On Saturday alone, 5,450 flights were delayed, after more than 7,000 delays and 1,025 cancellations on Friday.
The four largest U.S. carriers: American, Delta, Southwest and United each cut roughly 700 flights as part of the FAA’s order.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said 20% to 40% of controllers have stopped showing up for work. Many have now missed two straight paychecks, with fatigue contributing to hundreds of voluntary safety reports from pilots, according to Sen. Ted Cruz.
The shutdown, in its 39th day on Saturday, continues to strain aviation operations heading into the busy Thanksgiving travel period.
More than 1,000 flights have been canceled today nationwidem, and frustration is boiling over at Atlanta’s Hartsfield–Jackson Airport.
Fox News’ Madison Scarpino covered on 'Fox Report' that airlines are notifying travelers early, keeping the terminal relatively calm, but anxiety remains high.
Delays have already topped 4,000.“I’m very frustrated with the government… everybody’s suffering,” one traveler told Scarpino.
Another added: “Fire all of them… vote them all out.”
Airlines say they’ll refund or rebook affected passengers, but as Scarpino noted, everyone is hoping this gets resolved before the holiday rush.
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