FAA lifts flight restrictions after 43-day shutdown caused thousands of cancellations

The FAA announced on Nov. 16, 2025, that all flight restrictions would be lifted at 6 a.m. on Nov. 17, ending the unprecedented order in place since Nov. 7. The restrictions affected 40 major airports including hubs in 🗽New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. Transportation Secretary SDSean Duffy and FAA Administrator BBBryan Bedford made the joint announcement.

The 2025 government shutdown lasted 43 days (Oct. 1 - Nov. 12), making it the longest in U.S. history. It surpassed the 35-day shutdown of 2018-2019. During the shutdown, air traffic controllers were among the federal employees required to work without pay, missing two paychecks.

Flight cuts started at 4%, grew to 6%, then rolled back to 3% on Nov. 15 before being lifted entirely on Nov. 17. The FAA originally planned a 10% reduction but held off as controllers returned to work amid news Congress was close to a deal.

Peak cancellations hit 2,900 flights on Nov. 9, combining the FAA order, controller shortages, and severe weather. Over 5 million passengers were affected by staffing-related delays or cancellations during the shutdown, according to Airlines for America.

Staffing triggers—instances where available controllers fell below safe levels—dropped dramatically: from 81 on Nov. 8 to 6 on Nov. 15, 8 on Nov. 16, and just 1 on Nov. 17. At peak, some facilities had zero controllers show up for work.

By the end of the shutdown, 15-20 controllers were retiring daily and younger controllers were leaving the profession, according to Secretary Duffy. The system was already 3,000 certified controllers short before the shutdown began.