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At least 40 airports across the country will cut flight capacity by 10 percent due to a shortage of air traffic controllers amid the longest government shutdown in history, administration officials announced. Airports in “high-traffic” areas, including New York City’s three major hubs, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Dallas, will see a reduction beginning Friday. The government shutdown has gone on for 36 days – setting a new record for the longest shutdown in history. President Donald Trump and his allies have blamed lawmakers across the aisle for the closure after Democrats dug their heels in to fight for healthcare provision additions to a temporary funding bill. Lawmakers, federal government employees, and the public have grown frustrated with the continuing lapse in funding that has impacted air travel, food stamps and other government services. Trump claimed the shutdown was one of the reasons that Republicans lost in major local elections on Tuesday. The president is highlighting the accomplishments of his administration online to remind voters of his key initiatives and agenda. He’s expected to make a “major announcement” on Thursday related to a new policy.
