Germany Longest shutdown in US history slows down air traffic
The partial government shutdown in the USA is having an increasing impact on air traffic. According to the website "FlightAware", more than 1,000 flights within the USA, into the USA or out of the USA were canceled on Saturday afternoon (local time). Almost 4,400 other connections were delayed.
08.11.2025, 22:10
SDA
According to NBC, Charlotte Douglas International Airport in the state of North Carolina was the worst affected. In second place was Newark Liberty International Airport in the state of New Jersey, through which many travelers come to New York.
Federal Foreign Office points out shutdown consequences
Because Democrats and Republicans in Congress cannot agree on a budget, regular government operations are largely paralyzed. Many federal employees are currently not receiving a salary. Programs to provide low-income households with food are under pressure. Processes at the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and ground staff at airports are also affected.
The FAA initially wants to reduce flight movements by around four percent, but this could rise to ten percent by the middle of the month. Almost 1,000 flights were already canceled on Friday. Many cancellations are currently still being cushioned because the planes are not fully booked in the low season. Nevertheless, airports reported long queues and delays.
In its travel advice for the USA, the Federal Foreign Office now explicitly points out possible delays in security checks, customs clearance and processing at airports. Travelers should allow more time and check the status of their flight. In addition, numerous national parks, museums and historical sites are currently closed or only accessible to a limited extent.
Republicans under pressure
Republicans and Democrats are accusing each other of making the population suffer for political reasons. However, both parties are likely to be closely monitoring the public mood. Polls currently show that a majority of Americans blame US President Donald Trump and his Republicans for the shutdown.
In the United States, party political conflicts are regularly fought over the budget. The current dispute is about cuts to the healthcare system. The Democrats are demanding that the Republicans reverse the corresponding cuts. These were part of a major tax bill, which is one of Trump's central political projects. The Republicans are therefore reluctant to abandon parts of it just a few months after it was passed.
US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy explained on Platform X that flights for medical transportation, emergencies and law enforcement would be prioritized. At the same time, he - like the Trump administration as a whole - blamed the Democrats for the situation and called on them to put pressure on their members of Congress.
Senate debates - focus on filibuster
The Senate - one of the two chambers of Congress - met for an unusual session on Saturday, and a quick agreement is considered unlikely. Trump signaled on his Truth Social platform that he was not prepared to compromise and called on his party to take a similarly hard line.
In recent days, he has increased the pressure on the Republicans to abolish a central procedural rule in the Senate - the so-called filibuster. This requires a 60-vote majority in the 100-member chamber for many decisions, making it more difficult to pass legislation. As the Republicans currently only have a narrow majority, they are dependent on votes from the Democrats for the budget.
Thanksgiving travel in jeopardy?
Although it would be possible to abolish the filibuster, there is a considerable political risk involved: should the majority in the Senate change in future, the Democrats could then pass legislation more easily. Both parties have therefore refrained from fundamentally changing the rule in the past.
At 39 days, this is now the longest shutdown in US history. The situation is also increasing concerns with a view to the Thanksgiving holiday at the end of November. Millions of people traditionally travel across the country for this family holiday - often by plane in the sprawling USA.
