FAA to Slash Flights at 40 Major Airports Amid Shutdown Crisis
The nation’s aviation system is facing an unprecedented disruption. The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday it will reduce air traffic by 10% at 40 “high-volume markets” beginning Friday, marking a dramatic escalation in the travel chaos triggered by the ongoing government shutdown.
A System Under Strain
The government shutdown that started October 1 has left thousands of federal employees unpaid or furloughed, including the air traffic controllers who keep our skies safe. This standoff has now surpassed 35 days, exceeding the record set during the 2018-2019 shutdown.
The human cost is stark. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged that air traffic controllers are taking side jobs to make ends meet as they’ve gone a month without pay, and the FAA is facing a shortage of 2,000 to 3,000 controllers. Many controllers who do show up for work are exhausted, working mandatory overtime while juggling second jobs just to pay their bills.
Since October 1, there have been at least 264 instances of staffing problems reported at FAA facilities—more than four times the 60 that reported problems on the same dates last year. The situation reached a crisis point over the weekend, with nearly 50% of major air traffic control facilities experiencing staffing shortages, and nearly 90% of air traffic controllers out at New York-area facilities.
Unprecedented Action
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, who has 35 years of experience in aviation, said he has never seen anything like this before. The decision to proactively reduce flight capacity represents a shift from reactive delays to preventive action aimed at maintaining safety margins.
Bedford emphasized that the agency wants to reduce pressure before safety is compromised, noting that “we just can’t ignore it when the early indicators are telling us we can take action today to prevent things from deteriorating”.
The reductions will affect approximately 3,500 to 4,000 flights daily and will be implemented proportionally across airlines during peak hours between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. International flights are exempt from the cuts.
Is Austin at Risk?
Austin travelers have already felt the impact of the shutdown. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has experienced at least six ground delays since the start of October, with the FAA listing “staffing” as the reason. Recent delays have lasted for hours, with some flights experiencing delays averaging up to 58 minutes.
However, the specific list of 40 airports that will face the 10% flight reduction does not currently include Austin.
- Anchorage International (ANC)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
- Boston Logan International (BOS)
- Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)
- Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)
- Dallas Love Field (DAL)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)
- Denver International (DEN)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
- Newark Liberty International (EWR)
- Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International (FLL)
- Honolulu International (HNL)
- Houston Hobby Airport (HOU)
- Washington Dulles International (IAD)
- George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH)
- Indianapolis International (IND)
- New York John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
- Las Vegas McCarran International (LAS)
- Los Angeles International (LAX)
- New York LaGuardia (LGA)
- Orlando International (MCO)
- Chicago Midway (MDW)
- Memphis International (MEM)
- Miami International (MIA)
- Minneapolis/St. Paul International (MSP)
- Oakland International (OAK)
- Ontario International (ONT)
- Chicago O’Hare International (ORD)
- Portland International (PDX)
- Philadelphia International (PHL)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)
- San Diego International (SAN)
- Louisville International (SDF)
- Seattle/Tacoma International (SEA)
- San Francisco International (SFO)
- Salt Lake City International (SLC)
- Teterboro Airport (TEB)
- Tampa International (TPA)
Two Dallas airports are on the list.
Houston’s two airports are also included.
An Orlando International Airport spokesperson noted that if their airport is identified as one affected, officials understand the priority is to maintain safety in the National Airspace System—a sentiment likely shared by Austin airport officials.
(The current list does not include Orlando or Austin).
What Travelers Should Do
With the holiday season approaching and no end to the shutdown in sight, travelers should prepare for continued disruptions:
- Check flight status frequently before heading to the airport
- Arrive earlier than usual to account for potential delays
- Stay in contact with your airline for real-time updates
- Consider travel insurance for upcoming trips
- Build extra time into connections
Transportation Secretary Duffy has warned of “mass chaos,” “mass flight delays,” and even the closure of certain “parts of the airspace” if the government shutdown drags into next week. While officials maintain that flying remains safe, the inconvenience factor is only expected to grow.
The aviation system that Americans rely on is showing dangerous cracks. Until Congress ends the shutdown, travelers should expect their journeys to be longer, more uncertain, and increasingly disrupted. The question isn’t whether your flight will be affected—it’s when.
Update: This story will be updated once the FAA releases the list of affected airports.
Austin City Leaders Respond to Prop Q Defeat
Austin voters decisively rejected Proposition Q at the polls, sending a clear message about affordability concerns that city leaders say they cannot ignore.
Mayor Kirk Watson acknowledged the outcome as a reflection of residents’ financial anxieties. Voters prioritized affordability and expressed concerns about their finances, grocery and utility bills, and property taxes, he noted. Watson emphasized that the council needs to give voters reason to trust them and called for a coherent budget process focused on basic services.
Watson spoke with KXAN-TV‘s Grace Reader yesterday about the defeat of Proposition Q.
Austin’s tax rate election proposition — Prop Q — was defeated overnight.
— Grace Reader (@GraceReaderTV) November 5, 2025
The question today is: What now? What will the city cut? And how will Austin’s budget be adjusted?
This morning I spoke to @KirkPWatson about how he hopes the city moves forward. pic.twitter.com/9xRaGLyB09
Council Member Marc Duchen, who was the lone vote against putting Prop Q on the ballot, called the rejection “a referendum on trust” and a wake-up call for the city. He pointed to the economic uncertainty facing Austinites in an increasingly expensive community.
Prop Q wasn't just a vote on taxes and affordability—it was a referendum on trust. My colleagues and I now have an opportunity to change course and restore our constituents’ faith in local government, and I hope we seize it. pic.twitter.com/NEoqOtlEGq
— Marc Duchen (@Marc4AustinD10) November 5, 2025
Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes said the outcome reflects the hard choices many Austin families are forced to make every day as the cost of living rises. She estimated the city would need to cut approximately $110 million from the budget.
Other council members struck similar tones of understanding mixed with concern about the path forward. Council Member Mike Siegel said the council will be forced to make painful cuts that will negatively impact quality of life and city services, though he expressed optimism that communities can come together.
José Velásquez pledged to keep fighting to ensure the city provides essential services while carefully revisiting the budget.
Krista Laine acknowledged Austin’s affordability crisis but warned about additional challenges from federal funding cuts and state restrictions.
My statement on the results of the tax rate election. pic.twitter.com/HdMGF2hLFt
— Council Member Krista Laine (@cmkristalaine) November 5, 2025
Council member Chito Vela:
Council member Ryan Alter opposed the tax rate hike.
The rejection of Prop Q means city leaders must now rework the budget to account for significantly less revenue than originally planned, forcing difficult decisions about which services and programs to maintain.
Austin American-Statesman: So…what’s next?
Austin City Council Meeting – November 6, 2025
On the agenda:
Main Agenda Items
Meeting Time: 10:00 AM at Austin City Hall
Key Highlights:
Morning Proclamations (9:00 AM)
- Austin Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Day
- Jim Franklin Day
- Carmen Rangel Day
- Community Wildfire Protection Plan Day
Major Contracts & Agreements
- $13.2 million GIS platform licensing contract with ESRI
- $12.2 million elevator/escalator maintenance for Austin Aviation
- $3.6 million electrical switchgear maintenance for Austin Energy/Aviation
- $2.5 million residential dumpster collection services
- $1.9 million meter testing software for Austin Energy
Policy & Appointments
- City Auditor appointment and compensation
- Municipal court judges appointment
- Residential tenant protections and eviction prevention resolution
- Homeless encampment management dashboard implementation plan
- Street outreach expansion for individuals experiencing homelessness
Public Hearings
- Texas Gas Service rate increase
- Multiple zoning cases and restrictive covenant amendments
Special Sessions
- 10:30 AM: Austin Housing Finance Corporation Board Meeting
- 12:00 PM: Public Communication (General)
- 2:00 PM: Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments
Police Department Grants
$200,000 Mental Health and Wellness Act implementation grant
$175,000 Youth-Led Recruiting Model grant
WATCH TODAY’S CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE.
APD’s SWAT unit was called to a situation near the UT campus.
Police said the incident “ended peacefully”.
Meanwhile, Leander police were looking for a suspect in a domestic disturbance situation yesterday.
A pedestrian was struck and seriously injured Wednesday morning in the Westfield neighborhood.
Police are investigating after a body was recovered from a vehicle that went into a pond in Elgin.
Authorities recovered the body of Andrew Campbell, 77, from a pond after his car crashed into the water. Witnesses reported the vehicle crossed a tax office parking lot and an adjacent private lot before ending up in the pond. An officer initially attempted a water rescue but found no one in the vehicle. The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team was called in, and the operation shifted from rescue to recovery.
At 1:00 p.m., authorities pulled out a black car with Campbell’s body inside, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the crash remains unknown and is being investigated by the Elgin Police Department‘s Criminal Investigations Division and Crash Reconstruction Team.
A 39-year-old Austin man was arrested following a detailed investigation into incidents of attempted home intrusion and possession of child pornography. (CBS Austin)
The Pflugerville Police Department is alerting residents about a phone scam involving individuals impersonating police officers.
Austin ISD Superintendent Matias Segura announced Wednesday that the district’s Office of Professional Standards is investigating at least one staff member. This action follows “significant concerns” raised by community members regarding how community feedback was applied to the system’s recent school consolidation plan.
Segura declined to confirm if the individuals under investigation were placed on administrative leave but stated he has restructured his team. (KXAN-TV)
Construction is starting this month on long-promised improvements to the Shoal Creek Trail. The city will widen a section of sidewalk along North Lamar Boulevard that runs parallel to a canyon below in an effort to improve accessibility and safety. (KUT 90.5)
PODCAST
As the holiday shopping season kicks into gear, chances are you’ll find yourself heading out to The Domain.
But let’s be real, that place tends to spark some strong opinions among Austinites. We either love it or we really, really don’t.
Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to unpack all things Domain: the good, the bad, and the downright cringe. From shopping and dining to people-watching and parking woes, we’re diving into what this mixed-use mecca says about our city.
WEATHER
WEDNESDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
Hang on! We’re about to take ride on the ATX weather rollercoaster…
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN: DAY 37
3.5 million Texans — including 1.7 million children — on the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, have become political collateral as the country’s leaders waffle over how to fund benefits for the month of November. (Texas Tribune)
Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., discusses a report that some Democrats may be willing to reopen the government if Republicans promise to hold a vote on extending Obamacare subsidies.
Food banks across Central Texas report overwhelming demand from struggling families.
After Gov. Greg Abbott opened an investigation into the city of Elgin’s funding allegations, acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock accepted a request from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to assist the Texas Rangers in the investigation.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission is scheduled to vote today on a plan to purchase the sprawling 54,000-acre Silver Lake Ranch from the Moody Foundation for a yet to be disclosed price. The parcel that straddles across Kinney and Edwards counties would be second in size only to the 300,000-acre Big Bend Ranch State Park, which was purchased in 1988. (Austin American-Statesman)
Bobby Michael Dennis, the man accused of shooting a Jacksonville police officer, has been taken into custody.
The Texas Department of Safety is offering reward money for information leading to the arrest of a wanted child sex offender.
Congressman Chip Roy is the effective conservative who represents the 21st congressional district in the great state of Texas. He serves on the House Judiciary, Rules, and Budget Committees and is the Policy Chair of the House Freedom Caucus. He’s running to replace Ken Paxton as Attorney General of Texas.
(Episode from November 4, 2025)
Texans said yes to all 17 proposed state constitutional amendments. What’s that mean now?
We’ll also dig into some select local results from across the state, including an update in the race to fill the U.S. House seat of the late Sylvester Turner.
The Trump administration recently announced a new cap on the number of refugees that the U.S. will accept in the upcoming year. What’s that mean for the big picture?
Plus, an El Paso woman concerned about her neighbors who rely on government food assistance starts a program she hopes others will replicate.
(Episode from November 5, 2025)
ICE Houston has announced they’ve made over 1,500 arrests during a 10-day operation in Southeast Texas, according to a news release.
In Dallas, City Council will discuss partnering with ICE in exchange for $25 million after the city’s police chief previously said he rejected the partnership.
SPORTS
NBA: A win for the Rockets last night to make it five straight, while the Mavericks and Spurs come up short.
Amen Thompson had 28 points and 10 rebounds, Alperen Sengun added 20 points and 16 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 124-109 on Wednesday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
Saddiq Bey had season highs with 22 points and nine rebounds to lead the New Orleans Pelicans past the Dallas Mavericks 101-99 on Wednesday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
Luka Doncic had 35 points, 13 assists, nine rebounds and five steals, and the Los Angeles Lakers rallied in the fourth quarter before surviving a frantic final second for their fifth consecutive victory, 118-116 over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
ON THE SCHEDULE
STANDINGS
NHL: The Dallas Stars host Anaheim tonight.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: The Aggies of Texas A&M play host to Texas Southern tonight.
One of the people that inspired J. Frank Dobie to devote his career to writing about Texas and preserving the stories and folk ways of the Southwest was John Avery Lomax. Lomax lived from 1867 to 1948 and during those years he did a considerable amount of work to preserve and record American folk music, especially the folk music of the cowboys.
