The United States has announced a major reduction in flight operations due to the ongoing government shutdown, which has now entered its 36th day. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Wednesday that flight capacity will be reduced by 10 per cent starting Friday. This decision will affect 40 major airports across the country and about 3,500 to 4,000 flights every day.

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Director Bryan Bedford, the move is necessary to maintain safety in the country’s air travel system. “We are seeing increasing pressure on operations, and if we don’t take action now, we won’t be able to assure the public that we operate the safest airline system in the world,” he said.

The decision comes as the government shutdown continues to cause widespread disruption. Thousands of employees in key aviation departments are working without pay. This includes 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers. The lack of funding and mounting stress have raised concerns about safety and performance in the aviation sector.

Airlines have been struggling to handle the growing crisis. They say around 3.2 million passengers have already been affected by flight delays and cancellations due to staff shortages and reduced airport operations.

Although the US government has not released the full list of affected airports, sources told ABC News that some of the busiest airports in the country are included. The list features Los Angeles International (LAX), New York’s JFK and LaGuardia, Chicago O’Hare, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami International, San Francisco International, and Seattle-Tacoma International, among others.

The shutdown, which began over a budget dispute, has impacted several government departments and millions of workers. Transportation Secretary Duffy warned earlier this week that if the situation continues, the administration might even have to completely shut down US airspace.

The reduction in flights is aimed at preventing any major security or operational failures while the shutdown persists. However, the move is expected to cause significant delays, cancellations, and inconvenience to passengers across the country. US Airlines have urged the government to resolve the political deadlock quickly to avoid further damage to the aviation industry and the travel economy.