Shutdown negotiations ongoing as Trump administration threatens to reduce air traffic

More airports are seeing delays today due to air traffic control staffing issues across the country, including at major hubs like Washington, DC and New York.

Here’s where the latest issues are being reported:

A total of 434 staffing problems have been reported by the FAA since the start of the shutdown, more than four times the number on the same days last year.

A traveller walks at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Thursday.

Even if the government reopens tomorrow, travelers should expect there to be residual impacts from the government shutdown as the holiday season approaches, according to Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA).

“There were delays before the shutdown. There’s obviously delays during the shutdown. There’s going to be delays after the shutdown,” he added.

A commercial airliner flies past a control tower at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday.

Air traffic controllers are bearing the brunt of the historic government shutdown, the president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) told CNN.

The Department of Transportation said it will cut air traffic by 10% at 40 airports — including major hubs — starting tomorrow if a deal isn’t reached to end the shutdown. Daniels said the move is necessary to help mitigate safety risks.

He also said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford will need to monitor the situation closely, “but they are taking those proactive steps of putting a smaller level of capacity to the airspace or a smaller number of flights” so that controllers can “provide the best service they can.”

Despite these efforts, Daniels acknowledged that controllers are still experiencing levels of “hopelessness” the longer the shutdown drags on.

Asked if some controllers are calling out sick in protest, Daniels said the situation is more complicated.

Daniels went on to explain that while controllers will eventually recieve back pay once the government reopens, “it probably will drag on for over two-and-a-half months for them to actually be made whole from what’s going on now. And that’s another part of the problem is that they know that it takes so long for the government to catch up in that direction.”

Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a key senator involved in the talks to reach a deal to open the government as soon as this week, touted “productive” bipartisan conversations as lawmakers work through sticking points.

“I think talks continue to be productive, and hopefully we can get to a resolution. I think we need to get government back up,” she said, stressing the importance of restoring SNAP benefits and paychecks to federal employees.

Pressed by on concerns by some in her party that the guarantee of a vote to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies without more substantial assurances it will become law is not sufficient, Shaheen responded, “Everybody will have an opportunity to have their input and to vote on what we do.”

Shaheen criticized Speaker Mike Johnson declining to commit to bringing an ACA vote to the House floor, telling Raju, “I can’t speak for the speaker. If he doesn’t understand that people can’t afford their health insurance rates, then he’s got a problem.”

Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal made clear he wants an extension of ACA credits to be included in the plan to reopen the government, saying the “vague promise” of a separate vote would be a “mistake.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks to reporters on Thursday.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he will be watching for progress out of this afternoon’s Democratic policy lunch to see if there will be enough centrist members of that party who will decide to vote to end the government shutdown.

“There are Democrats who are inclined to do the right thing. They’re under an enormous amount of pressure from the left,” he told reporters. “We’ll see if they hold sway today and hopefully we’ll know more about that as the day rolls on.”

He was asked if he will keep the Senate in session this weekend and into next week’s schedule Veterans Day recess if a deal is not reached.

Thune said he met Wednesday with two of the negotiators from the Democrats’ side. Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine, and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire.

Asked about Democratic concerns that while he has offered to let Democrats have a vote by a date certain on extending enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, which is at the center of the debate over the standoff, Speaker Mike Johnson is balking at one in the House.

“I can’t speak for the House,” he said. “I think the clear path forward here, with regard to the ACA issue is they get a vote, and we open up the government and we head down to the White House and sit down with the President and talk about it.”

Thune said he did not think it was needed to bring President Donald Trump into the shutdown talks at present.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi akes the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, on August 21, 2024.

Top Democrats are praising California Rep. Nancy Pelosi following her announcement this morning that she would not seek reelection after this term.

In a statement, Former President Joe Biden reiterated his belief that Pelosi was the best person to serve as speaker of the US House of Representatives.

“I often said Nancy Pelosi was the best Speaker of the House in American history — it’s why I awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” Biden wrote on X. “When I was President, we worked together to grow our economy, create millions of jobs, and make historic investments in our nation’s future. She has devoted much of her life to this country, and America will always be grateful. Jill and I wish Nancy and Paul all the best.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also praised Pelosi as a historic figure in the party and the US House, writing, “Nancy D’Alesandro Pelosi is an iconic, heroic, trailblazing, legendary and transformational leader. She is the greatest Speaker of all time.”

He added later: “During her 20 years leading House Democrats, she fiercely navigated many trials and tribulations, including a once-in-a-century pandemic, a horrific attack on the United States Capitol and a violent attempt on her husband’s life. Through it all, she led with strength and dignity. Like Esther, she was Speaker and Leader for such a time as this. Personally, Speaker Pelosi has been an incredible mentor, trusted friend and awesome colleague who has profoundly blessed me with her insights, perspectives and leadership values.”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene speaks with CNN on Thursday.

Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene slammed House leadership for not holding a session during the shutdown — which is now the longest in US history.

“And you can’t expect people to show up and be passionate about voting for you, when you’re not even going to work, and they’re going to work every single day and struggling to pay their bills,” Greene said.

Greene also said she is happy to hear that President Donald Trump is urging the Senate to eliminate the filibuster to end the shutdown.

Greene said she spoke to Trump about using the so-called nuclear option “some time ago.”

“I said, ‘Mr. President, this is the only way you’re going to get your agenda across.’ And I called for it,” Greene said. “I think it was early October, I actually started calling saying that, you know, Democrats should vote to fund the government, but Republicans are equally responsible. And if they’re serious about funding the government, they should use the nuclear option and override the filibuster to get it done. And so, I’m very pleased to see President Trump saying the same thing I’m saying.”

Asked by CNN whether President Donald Trump’s remarks saying Republicans are being blamed for the shutdown were helpful for negotiations, House Speaker Mike Johnson revealed that he spoke with Trump directly to give his own view of the political implications.

“I don’t read too much into that,” he added.

Johnson again sought to downplay the results from Tuesday’s elections.

“There were no surprises on Tuesday night, OK? You had blue states and blue cities that voted the glue to the alarm of no one, to the surprise of no one. That was what was expected,” he said.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks with reporters at the US Capitol on Thursday.

Speaker Mike Johnson said he would not guarantee a vote in the House on extending expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies — even if Senate GOP leaders ultimately make that commitment to end the shutdown.

Johnson’s remarks underscore some of Democrats’ biggest fears in their negotiations: Even if Senate Majority Leader John Thune allows a vote on health care, there would likely be no such vote in the House and would therefore infuriate the rest of their party.

On the state of shutdown talks, Johnson said he is personally “less optimistic” about them.

“I can tell you honestly I’m less optimistic this morning than I was yesterday. Because we were hearing there were some common-sense centrist Democrats who were talking to Republicans but what I understand is that Chuck Schumer has pulled them back from that. They’re being instructed and told they can’t go there,” Johnson said.

A Delta Airlines flight takes off at Los Angeles International Airport on October 26.

At least three major US airlines are waiving fees for travelers who want to cancel or change their upcoming flights due to tomorrow’s looming cuts to 10% of air traffic at 40 major airports.

In a notice to passengers, Delta Air Lines is allowing passengers “to change, cancel or refund their flights, including… basic economy fares, without penalty.”

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby announced in a letter to employees last night that “any customer traveling during this period is eligible for a refund if they do not wish to fly – even if their flight isn’t impacted. That includes non-refundable tickets and those customers with basic economy tickets.”

And American Airlines said in a statement: “Disrupting customers’ plans is the last thing we want do to. To provide additional flexibility during the impacted travel period, customers whose flights are cancelled for any reason or who choose not to travel will be able to change their flight or request a refund, without any penalty.”

This post has been updated with additional information.

A group of increasingly frustrated Senate Democratic freshmen are currently meeting to discuss potential off-ramps to the 37-day shutdown as anxiety ramps up inside Washington over the funding lapse’s escalating effects, according to three people familiar with the discussions.

The group is discussing a long-shot proposal to Republicans to allow the chamber to vote to reopen the government with only 50 votes — instead of the usual 60-vote threshold — in exchange for agreeing to a 50-vote threshold on extending the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, those sources said.

That idea would be a huge lift for the Senate GOP, which has been strongly opposed to changing that 60-vote threshold. But it’s an attempt to force any movements within the GOP after President Donald Trump himself called on Republicans to abolish the filibuster in a White House meeting on Wednesday.

The group is also discussing pushing their freshman class to stay in Washington this weekend and into next week as the shutdown drags on — an idea from Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, one of the sources said.

They hope to pitch their ideas to the broader Democratic caucus during a lunch meeting later in the day.

We’ve gotten some more information on the latest air travel disruptions.

Delays are being reported in Washington, DC, and New York this morning as the Federal Aviation Administration warns of air traffic control staffing shortages and prepares to reduce flights at 40 major airports.

Here are some more specifics:

A total of 431 staffing problems have been reported by the FAA since the start of the shutdown, more than four times the number on the same days last year.

The sun sets on Capitol Hill on November 3.

Negotiations between key senators will continue this morning as they push to announce a deal before the end of the week — or even today — to reopen the government, according to multiple sources in both parties.

There are still some key sticking points, the sources said, so it’s not yet clear when an accord will come together nor when the Senate will vote. But even after a deal is reached, it will take several days for it to be processed in both the Senate and the House, which has been out of session since September 19.

So the government shutdown is expected to continue for at least another couple days.

The idea would be to attach a stopgap bill to a larger package to fund several federal agencies. It’s still unclear how senators would deal with a key sticking point: expiring enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies. Negotiators are discussing a stand-alone ACA vote, far short of the demand of many Democrats who want an extension in the underlying package that President Donald Trump would sign into law.

Republicans have been keeping their leadership and the White House in the loop, one of the sources said.

A Frontier Airlines plane takes off at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on October 8.

Airlines are bracing their passengers for disruptions as a 10% reduction in air traffic — impacting some major airport hubs — will go into effect starting tomorrow if the shutdown is not resolved.

Here’s what some are saying:

“If you are flying Friday or in the next ten days and need to be there or don’t want to be stranded I highly recommend booking a backup ticket on another carrier,” Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle posted on Instagram.

Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are both offering waivers to allow passengers who do not want to fly to change their tickets without fees.

Try to avoid booking flights with layovers, according to the US Public Interest Research Group. The more planes you have to get on to reach your destination, the more chances there are for a flight to be delayed or canceled.

Air travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday.

Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said there will be significant disruptions in the airspace when the Federal Aviation Administration slashes 10% of air traffic at 40 busy airports Friday if there’s no shutdown agreement.

“This is not a political decision, this was data-driven to make the right call to get ahead of any issues that could happen in airspace that could have negative consequences,” Duffy said in an interview on Fox.

The DOT announced today that 10% of air traffic at 40 busy airports would be cut, potentially impacting thousands of flights, though the details of how many and which specific airports will be cut was not announced.

Even with the cuts, flights could still be delayed if there are not enough workers to control them safely.

Controllers will receive their second $0 paycheck next week, and Duffy has said some have taken second jobs to make ends meet or calling out sick in protest.

Air traffic controllers were sent a pay stub reflecting a total “net pay” of $0 for the second time since the start of the now-historic shutdown today.

The “Earnings and Leave Statement” reflects the funds to be paid next week for the pay period ending November 1.

Remember: Since the start of the shutdown, controllers and other essential workers, like Transportation Security Administration screeners, have been required to do their jobs but won’t be paid until after the government reopens.

The administration also said it will cut air traffic by 10% at 40 airports starting tomorrow if a deal isn’t reached to end the impasse, potentially impacting thousands of flights.

Sen. Katie Britt speaks with Vice President JD Vance before President Donald Trump arrives to speak with Senate Republicans at a breakfast in the State Dining Room of the White House on Wednesday.

Republican Sen. Katie Britt said that while she is working across the aisle to end the government shutdown, President Donald Trump’s argument for eliminating the filibuster to end the impasse, is “compelling.”

“President Trump made a very compelling case yesterday. He talked about what is in front of us and what we need to do for the American people. Obviously, he has a robust agenda, and it is on us to get that through,” the senator from Alabama said on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” this morning.

Trump has been vocal in recent days for Republicans to end the shutdown by using the “nuclear option,” in other words, eliminating the filibuster — a 60-vote threshold for passing legislation — and voting with a simple majority. He made that pitch again yesterday at a breakfast with Senate Republicans.

Britt added in the CNBC interview that Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the votes are not there to end the filibuster. But, she said, “we do have pathways that we can pursue that ultimately help us achieve his goal.”

The senator said she is working with Democrats and Republicans to try to pass appropriations for critical food assistance programs, military and veteran services and paying Capitol Police officers.

The Federal Aviation Administration is again reporting air traffic control staffing shortages today, as the agency prepares to reduce 10% of flights at 40 major airports as early as tomorrow.

Delays averaging 45 minutes were reported at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport this morning.

New York area airports are also seeing delays due to staffing, averaging 30 minutes, the FAA said in an advisory.

Staffing problems were also reported in Nashville from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET.

The Detroit TRACON (terminal radar approach control), which handles approaching and departing flights, is short-staffed until 10:30 a.m. ET, along with the New York Center, which handles flights at high altitude, until 2 p.m. ET.

In total: At least 428 staffing problems have been reported by the FAA since the start of the shutdown, more than four times the number on the same days last year.

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said early this morning that “pressures are building” in the US aviation system as the shutdown drags on, praising Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in a post on X for taking action.

NTSB board member Michael Graham also lauded the administration’s decision to reduce air traffic by 10% as early as tomorrow if the shutdown is not resolved.

“I am glad to see FAA following their established processes of proactively monitoring data and taking action to maintain the safety” of the national airspace system, he said in a post.

President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Wednesday.

This is what the president’s day looks like so far: