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 Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan 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.