The US Federal Aviation Administration announced on Wednesday that it would reduce air traffic by 10 per cent across 40 “high-volume” markets beginning on Friday morning to maintain safety during the ongoing government shutdown.

The reduction stands to affect thousands of flights nationwide.

The FAA is confronting staffing shortages among air traffic controllers who have been working unpaid since the shutdown began October 1, with some calling out of work, resulting in delays across the country.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency would not wait for a crisis to act, citing growing staffing pressures caused by the shutdown. “We can’t ignore it,” he said.

Bedford and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said they would meet later on Wednesday with airline executives to determine how to safely implement the reduction in flights.

“The early indicators are telling us we can take action today to prevent things from deteriorating,” Bedford said.