The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on November 16, 2025, that it is rescinding emergency flight reduction mandates at 40 major airports, allowing air traffic to return to normal operations following the resolution of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The decision comes after President Donald Trump signed a bipartisan funding bill on November 12, ending the 43-day shutdown triggered by disputes over appropriations, including Affordable Care Act subsidies and border security funding. The shutdown, which began on October 1, furloughed or left unpaid around 670,000 federal workers, including essential air traffic controllers who continued duties without pay, leading to severe staffing shortages.The FAA had progressively imposed capacity reductions starting November 7—initially 4%, escalating to 6% by November 12, with plans to reach 10% by November 15—to mitigate safety risks from absenteeism and fatigue among its 13,000 controllers. These measures affected high-traffic hubs like New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Denver, resulting in over 5 million traveler disruptions: approximately 3,000 cancellations, 10,000 delays, and nearly half of domestic flights impacted on peak days. Airlines like American, Delta, and United reported “crescendo effects” of unpredictable chaos, with executives urging Congress to prioritize controller pay in future crises.

The turnaround was enabled by a Senate cloture vote on November 10 (60-40), where eight Democrats crossed party lines to advance the stopgap bill, funding the government through January 30, 2026, and providing one-year allocations for agriculture, veterans’ affairs, and food assistance. The House approved it swiftly on November 12, averting deeper cuts that could have grounded thousands more flights. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy hailed the “steady decline in staffing concerns,” noting only one controller issue on November 16 versus a peak of 81 on November 8. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford emphasized safety, stating the rescission reflects improved metrics while monitoring for full recovery, expected within a week.However, challenges linger: The FAA remains 2,000 controllers short, and disruptions may persist into Thanksgiving travel, with airlines like Amtrak reporting record bookings amid caution. The shutdown’s aviation fallout has prompted hearings, like Sen. Jerry Moran’s November 19 session on impacts, and calls for reforms, such as using the Airport and Airway Trust Fund for emergencies. ACA subsidies, a Democratic priority, were deferred to a December vote, leaving uncertainty. This episode underscores vulnerabilities in U.S. infrastructure amid partisan gridlock, with back pay now prioritized for 730,000 unpaid workers.