Over 5,000 US flights were cancelled or delayed on Friday due to new mandates, introduced as a consequence of the ongoing government shutdown. These rules force airlines to reduce air traffic at 40 of the country's largest airports to alleviate pressure on air traffic controllers and other essential federal workers who are performing their duties without pay.

• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented an emergency order mandating a 4% cut to flights, which will escalate to 10% by the end of next week.
• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that flight cuts could reach 20% if the shutdown persists and controllers continue to miss work.
• Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, noted that controllers are being used as "political pawns" in the longest-ever US government shutdown.