Shutdown Strains Air Travel as Congress Inches Toward Deal
By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | November 2025
As the federal government shutdown stretches through Veterans Day, travelers across the United States are facing mounting flight cancellations, long airport lines, and uncertainty over when relief will come. Lawmakers in Washington say negotiations are moving but not yet resolved, leaving both passengers and federal employees in limbo.
FAA Reduces Flights, Thousands Delayed
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced new nationwide flight reductions of up to 6 percent at forty of the busiest U.S. airports, measures that could rise to 10 percent or more if the shutdown continues. The FAA says the move is designed to preserve safety amid staffing shortages, particularly among air-traffic controllers who are working without pay.
According to FAA and airline reports, roughly 1,200 flights were canceled and 1,700 delayed on Tuesday alone, with ripple effects expected throughout the week. Larger hubs such as Chicago O’Hare, Atlanta, and Dallas–Fort Worth have seen some of the heaviest disruptions.
“Safety remains our top priority,” the FAA said in a statement, emphasizing that reduced scheduling is a “controlled measure” to keep the national airspace safe with fewer controllers available.
Wait Times Surge at Major Airports
While Anchorage’s Ted Stevens International Airport (ANC) has been relatively stable, with security lines averaging 10–30 minutes, many mainland airports are reporting hours-long waits.
Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental saw 3-hour-plus lines at TSA checkpoints this week, according to Houston Airport officials. TSA confirmed that staffing shortages caused by the shutdown have forced airports to consolidate lanes and extend processing times.
Travel experts recommend arriving at least two hours earlier than usual and checking airline apps frequently for real-time updates. Even if a deal is reached soon, analysts say schedule disruptions will linger while airlines rebalance flight operations.
Lawmakers Edge Toward Reopening Plan
On Capitol Hill, there are tentative signs of progress. The U.S. Senate has passed a continuing resolution—a temporary funding measure—that would reopen the government through January 30, 2026. The resolution also includes several full-year FY 2026 appropriations bills.
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) led a successful amendment, S.Amdt. 3937, that replaced the text of the House’s version (H.R. 5371). That measure passed the Senate 60–40 on November 10. However, since the Senate substituted its own version, the legislation must now return to the House for agreement before it can become law.
House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-OK) released a statement Tuesday urging members to support the bill and “reopen the government and resume appropriations work.” But partisan divisions remain: Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer (D-NY), argue that any deal must address what they call a “Republican-made healthcare crisis,” while Republicans are pushing for a clean, policy-free funding bill.
Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), who voted to advance the Senate’s bill, called the shutdown “the most senseless, unnecessary” he’s seen but said, “we finally have a breakthrough tonight.”
Next Steps
The House is scheduled to reconvene at noon Wednesday, according to the Clerk of the House, though no formal vote time on the Senate-amended bill has been posted. Without House approval, the government remains closed and federal paychecks for hundreds of thousands of employees—including air-traffic controllers—remain on hold.
If the House approves the Senate version without further changes, the measure could reach the President’s desk as soon as late Wednesday or Thursday. But additional amendments or procedural hurdles could easily extend the stalemate.
For now, Americans are advised to brace for continued travel headaches and government service delays as Congress races against growing public frustration.
Primary Sources:
- FAA Official Statement
- U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Release
- House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole Statement
- Congress.gov – H.R. 5371 Amendments
- Senator Dan Sullivan Statement
- Senate Democrats Press Release: Schumer Remarks
- TSA Travel Advisory
- Clerk of the U.S. House Floor Schedule
- Congress.gov – Bill Text & Actions for H.R. 5371
