More than 1,200 flights were canceled across the U.S. on Tuesday as the impact of the ongoing government shutdown rippled through the nation’s air travel system, despite the Senate having approved a bipartisan measure aimed at ending the impasse.

According to FlightAware, cancellations affected about 6% of flights at 40 of the country’s busiest airports on Tuesday, including hubs in Chicago, New York, Washington, Atlanta, and Dallas-Fort Worth. Another 2,000 flights faced delays, with United Airlines publishing a lengthy list of affected routes stretching from early morning through late evening.

The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered airlines to cut flights incrementally—6% this week, with reductions rising to 8% on Thursday and potentially 10% by Friday—to ease pressure on the national airspace system. The agency’s move comes as both air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration employees have now worked more than six weeks without pay.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the FAA’s decision to reduce flight operations was a direct response to safety concerns and staffing shortages, as thousands of air traffic controllers continued working without pay. “Safety data was going in the wrong direction,” Duffy said, noting increases in runway incursions, pilot complaints, and instances of aircraft flying too close together.

Although the Senate’s late Monday vote signaled potential relief, the measure still requires passage in the House and President Donald Trump’s signature to reopen the government fully. Duffy said he hoped the agreement would be finalized soon, allowing air travel to normalize, but warned that recovery would not be immediate. “Flight restrictions will be reduced or removed when the data says we should.”  He added that the shutdown had already led most controllers to miss a second paycheck, leaving many struggling to cover basic expenses. Once the government reopens, Duffy said that controllers should receive about 70% of their owed pay within 48 hours in a lump-sum payment. “They’ll get a good lump sum of what they’re due, which is helpful. They don’t have to wait another two weeks to be paid,” he said.

Airlines, meanwhile, have pledged to increase flexibility for passengers and expedite refunds for canceled flights. Duffy emphasized that “stringent requirements” for refunds have been suspended, ensuring travelers are reimbursed for grounded flights.  Officials caution that even if the shutdown ends this week, it could take time for the aviation system to fully stabilize. “For anyone to say that we did too much, they are sorely mistaken,” Duffy said. “We’ll continue to manage through this crisis.”

Editorial credit: Frame Stock Footage / Shutterstock.com