Over 2.7K Flights Cancelled Amid US Shutdown

Published 3 hours ago

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Above: A view of O'Hare airport in Chicago on Nov. 9, 2025. Image copyright: Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

The government shutdown has created a genuine aviation crisis that threatens public safety and economic stability. Air traffic controllers are retiring at five times the normal rate while working without pay, forcing the FAA to cut flights by up to 10% at major airports. This isn't political theater — it's a systemic breakdown affecting millions of travelers and billions in economic activity across aviation, hospitality and related industries.

AInvest The New York Times

Establishment-critical narrative

Flight disruptions during the shutdown simply expose longstanding problems in an already broken air traffic control system running on outdated technology. Normal operations see 4,500 daily flight delays anyway, and current cancellation numbers fall within typical ranges. The real issue isn't the shutdown — it's decades of underinvestment in antiquated infrastructure that needs $31 billion in upgrades.

The Hill