Washington, DC – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has officially announced the removal of all air travel restrictions that were enforced during the 43-day federal government shutdown. This decision allows the National Airspace System to resume normal operations starting Monday. The shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, forced the Trump Administration to curtail activities at 40 major airports due to a critical shortage of air traffic controllers, who were left unpaid during the period.
According to the DOT, the restoration of full operations was based on Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety reviews, which indicated a decrease in hazardous incidents despite the staffing crisis. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed gratitude to FAA personnel for upholding safety standards and acknowledged the return of air traffic controllers following the shutdown’s conclusion as pivotal in reinstating normal flight operations. During the shutdown, major airports in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Washington, and New York saw flight reductions of up to 6%, leading to approximately 9,000 delays or 2,900 cancellations daily.
Additionally, the DOT confirmed the termination of restrictions affecting commercial space launches, general aviation at 12 airports, parachuting activities, and aerial photography near collision-risk zones. With these measures lifted, the agency now aims to prioritize expanding controller recruitment and modernizing the U.S. air traffic control system.