Mamdani could face setback in Albany on his plan to pay for socialist programs
Zohran Mamdani is headed to City Hall after Tuesday night’s mayoral victory, but delivering on his ambitious campaign agenda could depend on a fight in Albany.
The 34-year-old democratic socialist’s plan to lower the cost-of-living in New York City through city-owned grocery stores, universal childcare and free buses requires raising taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers, but any tax hike would require New York state approval, and Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., has rejected raising taxes.
Mamdani campaigned on creating a 2% New York City income tax for anyone making more than $1 million a year and raising the top state corporate tax rate to 11.5% to match New Jersey’s in order to pay for his campaign promises.
But the mayor of New York City does not have the authority to raise taxes. Under New York state law — and consistent with Article XVI of the New York State Constitution — only the state legislature holds the power to tax, meaning the city cannot create new taxes or change existing rates without approval from the legislature and governor in Albany.
MAMDANI DANCES INTO FINAL CAMPAIGN STRETCH, PUSHING SOCIALIST AFFORDABILITY MESSAGE AHEAD OF NYC VOTE
Hochul did not respond to Fox News Digital’s inquiry on Wednesday about whether she is considering a tax hike now that Mamdani is set to become the next mayor of New York City.
‘TAX THE RICH!’: MAMDANI STEPS IN TO DEFEND HOCHUL AFTER SUPPORTERS HECKLE GOVERNOR AT NYC RALLY
During Mamdani’s election night party in Brooklyn on Tuesday, the New York City crowd began chanting, “Tax the rich!” when Hochul’s photo appeared on the big screen during NY1’s election night broadcast.
It was the latest example of the growing pressure on Hochul to raise taxes, so Mamdani can deliver on his campaign agenda.
Last week, Hochul told Fox News host Jessica Tarlov on her podcast, “Raging Moderates,” that “one energetic rally” would not influence her to change her position. She said he has to protect the New Yorkers who already fund the state’s budget.
“I cannot make up for that with middle-class tax increases. I cannot do that to the middle class and the struggling New Yorkers,” Hochul said.
Mamdani defended Hochul last week after his supporters drowned her out with chants of “Tax the rich!” while she delivered remarks during the high-profile “New York is not for sale” rally in Forest Hills, Queens, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
“Whenever I speak with the governor, it always comes back to affordability, and we have both made clear that that is the defining purpose of our politics, and that’s what we’re going to deliver,” Mamdani told reporters.
But Mamdani’s supporters, knowing Hochul had been unwilling to budge on raising taxes, disrupted her remarks, shouting, “Tax the rich!” The chants forced Mamdani to walk out on stage early and take her hand in his to affirm his support for the governor.
“I can hear you,” Hochul responded as the stadium erupted with the chant.
Hochul told reporters last week that she knows there is “passion” to raise taxes on corporations and the top 1% of New Yorkers.
When pressed by a reporter if she would be willing to change her mind about raising taxes, Hochul said, “I’m having a lot of conversations about everything.”
“They want to know my timeline. I said let’s get through this election. Let’s let the focus be on your race,” Hochul added, explaining that she wanted to attend Sunday’s rally as the leader of a diverse Democratic Party.
She also said she wasn’t sure what the hecklers were saying. “I couldn’t hear what they were chanting. I thought they were saying, ‘Let’s go, Bills.’ I wasn’t sure,” Hochul said.
“I appreciated the governor speaking at yesterday’s rally,” Mamdani said when asked about the chants. “I appreciated her remarks. I appreciate her support for universal childcare, which is something that’s been a longstanding priority for her.”
Hochul was initially reluctant to endorse Mamdani but later embraced the democratic socialist and joined him on the campaign trail.
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Mamdani has yet to endorse Hochul for re-election, where she is likely to face off against Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who has been floating a gubernatorial bid for months.
“Kathy Hochul and her endorsed Commie Mamdani are literally destroying New York,” Stefanik said Tuesday night after Mamdani won the mayoral election.
The Mamdani campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s inquiry.
House Democrat’s stunning announcement leaves prime opportunity for GOP
A House Democrat representing a district that President Donald Trump won in 2024 is not seeking re-election next year.
Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, announced his plans in an op-ed for the Bangor Daily News on Wednesday, a day after Democrats’ sweeping electoral victories in Virginia, New Jersey, California and New York City.
“I have never loved politics. But I find purpose and meaning in service, and the Marine in me has been able to slog along through the many aspects of politics I dislike by focusing on the good work that Congress is capable of producing with patience and determination,” Golden wrote.
“But after 11 years as a legislator, I have grown tired of the increasing incivility and plain nastiness that are now common from some elements of our American community — behavior that, too often, our political leaders exhibit themselves.”
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Golden has represented Maine’s 2nd Congressional District since 2019. He’s managed to hold on to the seat through his constituents voting for President Donald Trump in both 2020 and 2024.
The moderate Democrat — also a Marine Corps veteran — has been known to frequently break from his own party, including on the recent government shutdown vote in September.
He shared more of his concerns with the left in his retirement announcement, criticizing both Republicans and Democrats for the current state of politics in the country.
“We have seen mainstream Republicans stand by as their party was hijacked first by Tea Party obstructionists and then by the MAGA movement and its willingness to hand much of Congress’ authority to the president,’ Golden wrote.
“I fear Democrats are going down the same path. We’re allowing the most extreme, pugilistic elements of our party to call the shots. Just look again at the shutdown. For as long as I can remember, we have opposed shutting down the government over policy disputes. We criticized Republicans for taking hostages this way. But this year, reeling from the losses of the last election, too many Democrats have given into demands that we use the same no-holds-barred, obstructionary tactics as the GOP.”
And despite his seat being a prime target for Republicans every two years, Golden said that did not factor into his decision.
“I don’t fear losing. What has become apparent to me is that I now dread the prospect of winning. Simply put, what I could accomplish in this increasingly unproductive Congress pales in comparison to what I could do in that time as a husband, a father and a son,” he wrote.
“I have long supported term limits and while current law allows me to run again, I like the idea of ending my service in Congress after eight years — the length of term limits in the Maine Legislature.”
SOCIALIST SHOCKWAVE: ZOHRAN MAMDANI STUNS NYC AS VOTERS HAND POWER TO DEMOCRATS’ FAR-LEFT FLANK
Golden’s seat had been ranked a “toss-up” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, which also rated his district slightly in favor of the GOP at R+4.
House Republicans’ campaign arm wasted no time in seizing on Golden’s announcement, releasing its own statement shortly after his op-ed was published.
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“Serial flip-flopper Jared Golden’s exit from Congress says it all: He’s turned his back on Mainers for years and now his chickens are coming home to roost. He, nor any other Democrat, has a path to victory in ME-02 and Republicans will flip this seat red in 2026,” National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole said in a release to reporters.
Beyond his frustration with partisan politics, however, Golden also revealed that the heightened political environment also pushed him to re-consider his congressional career.
Golden said earlier this year that he and his family had to spend Thanksgiving in a hotel room after receiving a bomb threat at their home.
House Democrats’ campaign arm thanked Golden for his service in its own statement upon his retirement.
“I sincerely commend Jared for all the work he has done for Mainers, from lowering costs to protecting lobstermen’s jobs and fighting for veterans,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Chair Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., said. “He has devoted his life so far to service, first as a Marine, then in the Maine legislature, and in Congress since 2019. He embodies Maine’s independent spirit and I wish him and his family all the best in their next chapter.”
Alex Vesia skips Dodgers’ World Series celebration as teammates show support
The Los Angeles Dodgers outlasted the Toronto Blue Jays in a thrilling seven-game World Series that went to extra innings multiple times.
Two days after the Dodgers’ 5-4 Game 7 win made it back-to-back titles, the team celebrated with a championship parade in Los Angeles, but one player was noticeably absent.
Relief pitcher Alex Vesia stepped away from the team shortly before the World Series started and did not return to pitch in any of the games.
The Dodgers recently revealed that Vesia and his wife, Kayla, were facing a “deeply personal matter” that would require him to spend an undisclosed amount of time away from the team.
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“The entire Dodgers organization is sending out thoughts to the Vesia family, and we will provide an update at a later date,” the team said in a statement Oct. 23.
DODGERS’ WORLD SERIES HERO WILL SMITH DESCRIBES TEAM’S MINDSET DURING DRAMATIC VICTORY OVER BLUE JAYS
In April, the couple shared news of Kayla’s pregnancy and confirmed they were expecting a baby girl. In the months since, they’ve posted several photos on social media documenting the pregnancy.
Oct. 18 marked the most recent post from the 29-year-old MLB player or his wife. Both shared photos celebrating the buildup to the World Series.
Vesia’s teammate, Will Klein, mentioned Alex and Kayla after the Dodgers clinched back-to-back World Series titles.
“We’ve all messaged him,” Klein said, referring to teammates reaching out to Vesia. “We just want him to know that he’s in our hearts, and we did this all for him.
“He’s such a big part of why we’re here in the first place, and, so, just to be able to get this for them — there are harder places to be than on a World Series mound,” Klein added. “And, so, what they’re going through isn’t great.”
Klein also noted that the Blue Jays paid tribute to Vesia.
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“It’s bigger than baseball,” he said. “And it was really just great to be a part of it for him.”
Vesia appeared in 68 regular season games and seven postseason games this season.
CNN anchor tells Hasan Minhaj that ‘my job is not to take down Trump’ as reporter
CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins insisted her job was not to “take down” President Donald Trump as she defended her controversial 2023 town hall with him Wednesday.
Comedian Hasan Minhaj asked “The Source” host about the town hall on his podcast and whether it was a bid by the network to win back Republican viewers. Collins said the event was similar to other CNN presidential town halls because Trump was “very clearly” preparing to run for office again.
Despite the backlash she received from liberals both inside and outside CNN, Collins maintained that her job was to report on the reality of Trump potentially running for office again.
OCASIO-CORTEZ FUMES AT CNN FOR TRUMP TOWN HALL: ‘SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES’
“Actually what that moment showed was there was still a lot of support for Donald Trump, and I think it was jarring for some people to remember that, maybe, and to see that,” Collins said. “But that was reality, and our job is not to sanitize things and say, ‘Well, this is what you want the narrative to be’ or ‘This is what you want to happen.’
“Our job is just to cover it as it happens and to show you what that was, and I think that town hall showed people that my job is not to take down Trump. I’m a reporter and an anchor.”
CNN FACING ‘FURY’ FROM STAFFERS OVER TRUMP TOWN HALL: ‘IT FELT LIKE 2016 ALL OVER AGAIN’
Collins said she did not think about the CNN audience when preparing for the town hall and instead focused on challenging and fact-checking Trump on his statements. She added that the town hall “foreshadowed” the eventual 2024 presidential election based on the audience’s reaction to Trump.
“If you watched that town hall, you weren’t surprised when Trump went on to sweep the Republican nomination, and you weren’t surprised when he won the election,” Collins said. “Trump was re-elected and put back in office.”
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Trump sparred with Collins on several issues during the 2023 town hall, including the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and his claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged. During one exchange, Trump referred to Collins as a “nasty person” to the cheers of his supporters in the audience.
Collins also stood by the town hall in a 2024 Elle magazine interview, arguing that Trump would have garnered attention with or without CNN.
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“I don’t think you can ignore someone who is the Republican frontrunner, and likely, if it was tomorrow, the GOP nominee,” Collins said at the time.
Bronx rocked by fiery van explosion as flames send massive fireball into the air
Multiple firefighters were injured after a burning car reportedly erupted in a massive explosion Wednesday evening in New York City, a police spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
Authorities said the blast originated from a vehicle at 7:13 p.m. in a mixed residential and commercial area of the Bronx, near Fox Street and Westchester Avenue.
DRAMATIC VIDEO SHOWS ‘CATASTROPHIC’ UPS PLANE DISASTER THAT LEFT AT LEAST 7 DEAD, 11 INJURED
FDNY Chief John Esposito said at a news conference that seven firefighters were hurt, with three being admitted to the trauma and burn center at Jacobi Hospital. Five firefighters have burns to the hands and face.
“Our firefighters are awake, alert and speaking, but they have some serious burns, and we’ll be praying for them,” Esposito said, adding that all are expected to recover.
A video posted on social media showed flames erupting near what appeared to be a white commercial van, moments before an explosion sent a massive fireball and plumes of smoke several stories into the air.
EXPLOSION AT MISSISSIPPI CHEMICAL PLANT PROMPTS EVACUATIONS AMID AMMONIA LEAK
Multiple smaller explosions were also caught on camera, lighting up the night with electrical sparks into the night sky with sharp popping sounds.
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The fire was reportedly under control by 8:19 p.m., authorities told the New York Post.
The cause of the explosion remains unclear.
Jelly Roll confronts high-end retailer over treatment during Australia visit
Jelly Roll claims he was treated like a “criminal” while shopping at a Louis Vuitton store in Sydney.
On Wednesday, the Grammy-nominated star took to social media to share his experience, saying the employees looked at him as if he were about to “rob” the store.
“Hey man, the Louis Vuitton in Sydney, legitimately just treated us like we were finna [sic] come in and rob that place,” the musician, who was wearing a backward ball cap, said.
“I have never been looked at more like a crim… Listen, the last time I was looked at like a criminal this bad… I was an actual criminal this bad.”
JELLY ROLL CALLS OUT CHRISTIAN SINGER OVER CONTROVERSIAL AWARDS SHOW BOYCOTT STANCE
A representative for Louis Vuitton did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
The “Save Me” singer has been open about his past legal troubles and battle with addiction.
During a 2023 interview with Billboard, Jelly Roll, whose full name is Jason Bradley DeFord, said he was arrested when he was 16 and charged as an adult with aggravated robbery and possession with intent to sell.
He served over a year in prison and seven years of probation.
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“I never want to overlook the fact that it was a heinous crime,” Jelly Roll told Billboard.
He continued, “This is a grown man looking back at a 16-year-old kid that made the worst decision that he could have made in life and people could have got hurt and, by the grace of God, thankfully, nobody did.”
In October 2024, Jelly Roll opened up about how the birth of his daughter was the catalyst for wanting to change his life.
The country music star decided to make a change “as soon as she was born” after he found himself “sitting in a jail cell, having $17 of honeybuns and potato chips to [his] name.”
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“I own one outfit, the one that was in the jail, and here I am responsible for a child,” Jelly Roll said during an appearance on “Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist.” “I mean, I was the lowest common denominator in life, you know? I mean, I was scum of the Earth. I was a crack dealer. I was a horrible, horrible human. And I was like, ‘I’ve got to figure this out.'”
During an interview with Fox News Digital last year, he shared that his troubled past and his ability to overcome it had a lasting impact on him.
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“I wouldn’t be the man I am today if it wasn’t for what I went through. I think it empowered me. I think it gave me my voice,” he said at the 2023 CMAs. “It taught me a lot about overcoming. It taught me a lot about changing and the ability to change.”
He continued, “I was a horrible human for decades, and to just be able to turn that around and give a message in the music and help people… and just try to give back as much as I can in every way I can is very indicative of where I came from and how important it is to me to always reach back.”
‘Not where the American people are’: Sanders crashes podium to call out Democrats
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., took over Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s post-election news conference Wednesday, knocking the Democratic Party for their lack of support in political races in New York and Maine.
“Well, the party leadership did not support [mayoral candidate Zohran] Mamdani in New York,” Sanders said in front of the Senate podium. “Party leadership is not supporting [Senate hopeful Graham] Platner in Maine. And I think he’s going to win… I think there is a growing understanding that leadership, and defending the status quo and the inequalities that exist in America, is not where the American people are.”
Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, won the mayoral race in New York City and Democrat Mikie Sherrill secured the New Jersey governorship.
California’s Proposition 50 was also passed after being placed on the ballot, and Democrats will maintain control of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court as Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht won their respective retention races.
MAMDANI ACCUSES JOHNSON OF TRYING TO ‘DISTRACT’ AS HOUSE SPEAKER CALLS JEFFRIES’ ENDORSEMENT THE END OF DEMS
Prior to Sanders’ outburst, Schumer, D-N.Y., spoke with reporters, bashing Republicans as the government shutdown stretches into its 36th day, making it the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
“Last night, Republicans felt the political repercussions [of the Trump administration’s policies],” Schumer said. “It should serve as nothing short of a five-alarm fire to the Republicans. Their high-cost house is burning, and they’ve only got themselves to blame. As loudly and clearly as could possibly be done, from one end of the country to the other, the American people said enough is enough.”
SCHUMER SILENT AS VAN HOLLEN BLASTS ‘SPINELESS’ NY DEMOCRATS OVER MAMDANI SNUB
Schumer said he and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries demanded Wednesday morning President Donald Trump sit down with them to discuss healthcare issues.
“Last night was a really good night for Democrats and our fight to lower costs, improve health care and reach a better future for our country,” Schumer said. “But more importantly than that, last night was a great night for American families that are struggling now to make ends meet, because the election showed that Democrats’ control of the Senate is much closer than the people and the prognosticators realize. The more Republicans double down on raising costs and bowing down to Trump, the more their Senate majority is at risk.
“… When Leader Jeffries and I met with Donald Trump in the White House a month or so back, we told him this was going to happen. We warned him that if he didn’t do something, working with us to address the health care needs of America, and instead insisting on no negotiation with Democrats, that was a recipe for disaster for the country, and it would come back to haunt them. Last night should make it clear to Republicans that they simply cannot continue to ignore not only us, but the American people, for the good of the whole country.”
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Democratic leaders have been urging Republicans in both the House and Senate to confront the surge in health insurance premiums tied to the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies.
At the same time, funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has lapsed.
Though several stopgap measures have been proposed by Republicans, including a GOP-led bill blocked Tuesday, Congress has yet to reach an agreement.
Grim pattern of cliffside deaths unsettles wealthy oceanfront enclave: report
For the second time in two months, a body has been recovered from the base of the steep cliffs that line one of Southern California’s most affluent coastal communities.
On Oct. 30, officers from the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department (PVEPD) responded to reports of a body spotted along the steep bluffs near the 1400 block of Paseo Del Mar, SF Gate reported.
Firefighters from the Los Angeles County Fire Department assisted in retrieving the remains of an unidentified man from the rocky shoreline below. Police Chief Luke Hellinga said there were no indications of foul play.
ARREST MADE IN CONNECTION TO DEADLY PACIFIC PALISADES FIRE, SOURCES SAY
There was a similar tragedy earlier this year when another body was found in the same coastal stretch south of Paseo Del Mar.
On Aug. 30, fire crews and police were dispatched to the same area after a body was discovered at the base of the cliff. Witnesses said the victim appeared to be male, though authorities have not publicly confirmed the person’s identity. In both cases, investigators reported no evidence of criminal activity, according to Hellinga.
The October and August incidents are part of a disturbing pattern. In late 2024, separate discoveries of human remains were made just blocks away.
On Nov. 16, 2024, a passerby walking along Rat Beach, near the 300 block of Paseo Del Mar, reported finding what appeared to be a human skull and several bones during low tide. Investigators confirmed the remains were human and began working with the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office to determine the identity and cause of death.
Just over a month later, on Christmas Day 2024, officers were again called to the area near the 800 block of Paseo Del Mar after a partial human leg washed ashore. The next day, two partial sections of lower extremities were found on the shoreline. The coroner’s office confirmed those remains were also human, and a cadaver dog from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was deployed to search the surrounding coastline.
TOURIST HOT SPOT SHAKEN AFTER HUMAN FOOT WASHES ASHORE; POLICE LAUNCH INVESTIGATION: REPORTS
In a June 18, 2025, news release, police announced that several of the remains recovered along the city’s shoreline since 2023 had been positively identified through DNA testing.
According to Captain Aaron Belda, the identified victims include:
Mark Paulson, 68, whose femur was found in January 2023 and linked to a 2021 boating disappearance off Redondo Beach.
Raymond Simeroth, 57, identified from a skull and bone recovered in November 2024; investigators said he had experienced health issues before his death.
Zhaoliang Tang, 62, confirmed through DNA from two partial lower extremities as a missing fisherman.
The cases showed no signs of foul play, police said.
The deaths have drawn renewed attention to the hazards of the area’s rugged coastline.
INVESTIGATION CONTINUES AFTER HUNDREDS OF CREMATED HUMAN REMAINS DISCOVERED, RECOVERED FROM NEVADA DESERT
According to a 2022 report in The Point, then-Captain Tony Best of PVEPD said that, between 2010 and 2015, officers responded to 31 incidents, including suicides, rescues and injuries, along the city’s coastal cliffs.
Countywide, the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Division reported 9,286 ocean rescues in 2021, including cliff rescue operations.
In 2022, four people fell from the same cliffside, one of whom died, prompting warnings from officials about unstable ground. Fire Captain Wade Kelsey described the landscape to FOX 11 Los Angeles as “very unstable, very dangerous.”
MANAGER OF FAMED STRIP CLUB GUNNED DOWN NEAR HOME IN BLUE CITY AS POLICE HUNT FOR KILLER
“It’s extremely dangerous; there’s no fencing in the area,” Wade told the outlet. “There’s sloping to where it just goes off to a sheer cliff, and the majority of the area here is very unstable, very dangerous if you get close to the edge of this cliff without any sort of protection.”
Despite the risks, the cliffs remain largely unfenced and accessible.
The cliffside city remains one of California’s wealthiest enclaves. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city’s median household income is about $202,569 (2017–2021 American Community Survey), and Zillow’s Home Value Index places the typical home value around $2.69 million.
In 2015–2016, Palos Verdes Estates worked with Habitat for Humanity to deconstruct and demolish city-owned structures at Bluff Cove, clearing the site for permanent open space following decades of documented land movement, according to city records and notices.
The city’s cliffside properties, perched just yards from the ocean, continue to fuel debate over how to balance scenic preservation with public safety.
The PVEPD and the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office continue to investigate the most recent October incident and work toward identifying the man found near Paseo Del Mar.
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Anyone with information is urged to contact the PVEPD at 310-378-4211.
Fox News Digital reached out to the police department and mayor’s office for comment.
Airlines work to limit disruptions as FAA cuts air traffic 10% amid shutdown
Airlines said Wednesday they’re working to limit disruptions for travelers after federal officials announced new restrictions on air travel tied to the ongoing government shutdown.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it will reduce air traffic by 10% across 40 high-volume markets to maintain safety amid the shutdown and ongoing air traffic control staffing shortages.
A source told FOX Business the reductions will start at 4% on Friday and gradually ramp up to 10% next week, where they’ll stay “until the FAA feels comfortable with safety levels.”
The move could eliminate thousands of flights each day for as long as the shutdown continues.
FLIGHT DELAYS WORSEN AS UNPAID AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS FEEL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN PAIN
“I’m not aware in my 35-year history in the aviation market where we’ve had a situation where we’re taking these kinds of measures,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said at a news conference alongside Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
Air traffic controllers have been working without pay since the shutdown began more than a month ago, with many logging six-day weeks and mandatory overtime. Some have begun calling out due to financial strain, leading to flight delays at major airports.
Bedford said he and Duffy acted now to prevent the situation from worsening.
“We’re not going to wait for a safety problem to truly manifest itself when the early indicators are telling us we can take action today to prevent things from deteriorating,” Bedford said. “The system is extremely safe today and will be extremely safe tomorrow. If the pressures continue to build even after we take these measures, we’ll come back and take additional measures.”
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ISSUE DESPERATE PLEA AS FAMILIES STRUGGLE WITHOUT PAYCHECKS
United, Southwest and American Airlines each said they’ll work to reduce the impact on passengers as schedules are trimmed.
In a letter to employees, United CEO Scott Kirby said the airline will focus cuts on regional routes and non-hub flights and offer refunds to customers who choose not to travel during this period — even if their flight isn’t canceled.
“United’s long-haul international flying and our hub-to-hub flying will not be impacted by this schedule reduction direction from the FAA,” Kirby said. “That’s important to maintain the integrity of our network, give impacted customers as many options as possible to resume their trip, and sustain our crew pairing systems.”
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American said it expects “the vast majority of customers’ travel will proceed as planned,” and that it will proactively notify affected passengers as schedules change.
“As always, we encourage everyone to check their flight status,” the airline said.