US Warns Of Major Flight Cuts At 40 Airports As Shutdown Drags On. The US government says air travel could be sharply reduced if the shutdown continues with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warning of a 10% cut in flights at 40 major airports starting Friday. The move follows growing fatigue among air traffic controllers, who have now gone a month without pay. FAA chief Bryan Bedford said the unprecedented shutdown has created “pressures we can’t allow to go unchecked”, stressing that safety must come first. About 1.4 million federal workers, including controllers and park staff, are either working unpaid or on forced leave as Congress remains deadlocked over the federal budget. Flight reductions will begin gradually — 4% on Friday, rising to 10% next week — potentially grounding up to 4,000 flights a day, according to Reuters. Duffy said the decision aims to maintain “the safest airline system in the world” but warned that further restrictions could follow if the shutdown continues. [Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT]