(MENAFN) US air travel faces mounting disruptions as the government shutdown continues into its 40th day, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warning that flights could be “reduced to a trickle” if no resolution is reached.

By late Sunday, more than 2,900 flights to, from, or within the US had been cancelled, and 8,600 delayed, with Newark, New Jersey, reporting average delays exceeding two hours, according to flight tracker FlightAware.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced plans to reduce air travel capacity by up to 6% this weekend and 10% by next weekend at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports. While the reductions do not apply to international flights, some carriers may cancel those as well. The shortage of air traffic controllers—many of whom are unpaid and fatigued—has been cited as a key factor behind the restrictions.

Duffy noted that military air traffic controllers offered by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth could not step in because they are not certified to manage civilian airport traffic.

The shutdown, which began on October 1, has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers unpaid, disrupted food assistance for low-income Americans, and delayed other essential services.

Lawmakers are reportedly negotiating a compromise to reopen the government. The Senate convened on Sunday for a rare weekend session, with Republican senators working on a plan to advance a funding bill. Democrats continue to demand inclusion of health insurance subsidies, while Republicans prefer to fund the government without additional provisions.

President Donald Trump suggested sending money directly to Americans for health insurance instead of providing it to insurance companies.

Both parties have blamed each other for the impasse and its impact on air travel. The White House accused Democrats of causing hardships for travelers, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Republicans of “playing games with people's livelihoods.”

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