The ongoing US government shutdown has led to the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights across the country, causing widespread disruption to air travel. The crisis, now in its sixth week, has left many government employees, including essential airport staff, either working without pay or furloughed at home. The Trump administration has implemented flight reductions to alleviate the strain on air traffic controllers, with cuts affecting 40 major airports, including hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles. The reductions, starting at four per cent, are expected to rise to 10 per cent next week if Congress fails to reach a funding agreement. According to FlightAware, over 1,000 flights scheduled for Friday were cancelled, with significant delays reported at Reagan National Airport in Washington, Denver International, and Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) noted average delays of four hours at Reagan National, with 90-minute waits in Phoenix and one-hour delays in Chicago and San Francisco. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed frustration, stating, ‘We don’t need to be in this position.’ The shutdown, driven by a bitter standoff between Republicans and Democrats over health insurance subsidies, has left federal agencies inoperable since funding lapsed on October 1. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed Democrats for the shutdown, urging them to vote to reopen the government. President Donald Trump also called on Senate lawmakers to remain in Washington until an agreement is reached. The flight reductions come as the US enters its busiest travel period, with the Thanksgiving holiday approaching. Retiree Werner Buchi and other travellers expressed concerns about the impact on holiday plans. American Airlines reported 220 daily flight cancellations, while Delta Air Lines cut about 170 flights and Southwest Airlines axed around 100 flights. Despite the disruptions, the Trump administration reassured the public that flying remains safe, with Duffy stating, ‘It’s safe to fly today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the proactive actions we are taking.’ However, many aviation workers are reportedly calling in sick or seeking second jobs to cope with financial stress.