FAA Cutting Air Traffic 10% at Forty Airports Friday Due to Shutdown

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update | November 5, 2025

Main Theme

This episode covers major impacts from the continued U.S. government shutdown, focusing on the FAA’s decision to cut air traffic by 10% at forty major airports due to a shortage of air traffic controllers working without pay. The episode also touches on ongoing political stalemates, economic updates, national security concerns regarding drone activity, and consumer safety warnings.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. FAA to Cut Air Traffic Due to Shutdown (00:02 – 01:12)

• Main Issue: The Department of Transportation and FAA announced a 10% reduction in air traffic at high-volume airports starting Friday, aimed at addressing ongoing shortages of air traffic controllers who have been working without pay since the government shutdown began over a month ago.
• Safety First:
  • Sean Duffy, Transportation Secretary emphasizes:

    "We do not want to see disruptions at the FAA or here at dot. We don't want that. But our number one priority is to make sure when you travel, you travel safely." (00:14)

• Political Response:
  • Democratic leaders have sent a letter to President Trump to negotiate an end to the shutdown, but the president remains firm.
  • President Trump blames Democrats for the ongoing shutdown, marking it as the longest in U.S. history:

    "We are in the midst of a disastrous Democrat created government shutdown and it is Democrat created. But I don't think they're getting really the blame that they should. That's now officially the longest shutdown in American history." (00:48)

• Further Complications:
  • House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries calls for Republicans to consider extending health care subsidies due to expire later this year.

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2. Economic and Political Developments (01:20 – 01:44)

• Exclusive Interviews:
  • Bret Baier to interview President Trump and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries separately on “Special Report.”
• Tariffs and Supreme Court Hearing:
  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessen reacts optimistically to a Supreme Court hearing on Trump’s tariffs, believing the court will overturn a lower ruling that deemed them illegal.
  • Bessen expresses skepticism about the plaintiffs’ understanding of economics:

    "They clearly didn't understand foundational economics. They didn't understand the trade policy they were talking about." – Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy paraphrasing (01:38)

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3. Global Security: Drone Sightings Over Military Bases (03:37 – 04:27)

• Rising Concern:
  • Multiple unidentified drone sightings reported by European NATO allies—14 incidents in two months—especially near U.S. and allied military bases.
  • The latest: A drone hovered over Belgium’s Klein Brogel Air Base, reported to house U.S. tactical nuclear weapons, for two consecutive nights.
• Details of Incidents:
  • Drones came in two waves: small ones tested radio frequencies, followed by larger drones causing public alarm.
• Possible Attribution:
  • Some European officials suspect Russian ties to the drone activity.
• Jennifer Griffin’s report includes a warning about the global menace of drones near military sites. (03:42)

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4. U.S. Job Market Update During Shutdown (04:27 – 05:19)

• ADP Report:
  • Private employers added 42,000 new jobs in October, the first positive change since July, though the pace is modest.
• Shutdown Impact:
  • The official government monthly employment report is suspended due to the shutdown; ADP serves as an alternate indicator.
• Wages:
  • Annual pay increased 4.5% in October.
• Neila Richardson, ADP’s chief economist, notes improvement but highlights modest hiring versus earlier in the year:

  "Jobs were added in October for the first time since July, but hiring was modest relative to earlier this year." – Neila Richardson (04:37)

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5. Consumer Safety: FDA Crackdown on Counterfeit Injectables (05:19 – 05:35)

• FDA Warning:
  • The agency warns consumers and sends 18 letters to sites offering unapproved or counterfeit Botox and similar injectables.
• Public health alert highlights risks related to these unofficial products.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sean Duffy on Transportation Priorities (00:14):

  "Our number one priority is to make sure when you travel, you travel safely."

• President Trump on the Shutdown (00:48):

  "That's now officially the longest shutdown in American history."

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessen on Supreme Court Tariff Case (01:38):

  "They clearly didn't understand foundational economics."

• Jennifer Griffin on Drones as a Menace (03:42):

  "Drones are becoming a global menace, especially near military installations."

• Neila Richardson on Employment Trends (04:37):

  "Jobs were added in October for the first time since July, but hiring was modest relative to earlier this year."

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Important Segment Timestamps

• FAA Air Traffic Cuts Announced: 00:02 – 01:12
• President Trump Remarks on Shutdown: 00:48 – 01:00
• Tariffs Supreme Court Hearing Reaction: 01:20 – 01:44
• Drone Incidents Over Military Bases: 03:37 – 04:27
• ADP Job Report Commentary: 04:27 – 05:19
• FDA Warning on Counterfeit Injectables: 05:19 – 05:35

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Language & Tone

• The tone is urgent and journalistic, with direct, authoritative statements from officials and reporters.
• Reporting is factual with occasional political commentary—especially concerning the government shutdown.

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Summary Note:
This episode provides a rapid, fact-driven overview of evolving high-impact news tied to the government shutdown, security concerns, the economy, and consumer protections. It features statements from key government officials, offering both updates and clear attribution of political responsibility, and highlights both immediate disruptions (air travel, government data) and broader repercussions (military readiness, economic stability, public health).

Transcript

[Lisa Licera]

Thousands of flights impacted. I'm Lisa Licera, FOX News. The Transportation department and the FAA announcing a 10% reduction in air traffic across what they're calling high volume markets starting Friday.

[Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy]

We do not want to see disruptions at the FAA or here at dot. We don't want that. But our number one priority is to make sure when you travel, you travel safely.

[Lisa Licera]

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The cuts are due to a shortage of air traffic controllers who have been working without pay since the government shut more than a month ago. There have already been a number of delays at airports across the country as the FAA slows down or stops traffic anytime there's a shortage of controllers. Democratic leaders have sent President Trump a letter demanding a meeting to try to end the stalemate. He doesn't appear to be budging.

[President Donald Trump]

We are in the midst of a disastrous Democrat created government shutdown and it is Democrat created. But I don't think they're getting really the blame that they should. That's now officially the longest shutdown in American history.

[Lisa Licera]

The president has said he will speak with Democrats once a short funding bill is passed. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries says Republicans need to consider extending health care subsidies set to expire later this year.

[Fox News Advertiser / Narrator]

Republican policies are crushing people, particularly as it relates to the cost of living and health care.

[Lisa Licera]

Fox's Bret Baier will interview the president and Leader Jeff Freese separately. On Special Report this hour, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessen says he feels very optimistic after today's hearing before the Supreme Court on President Trump's tariffs. He telling FOX Business Larry Kudlow he thought the plaintiffs embarrassed themselves.

[Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy]

They clearly didn't understand foundational economics. They didn't understand the trade policy they were talking about.

[Lisa Licera]

And Bessen said he's confident the high court would reverse a lower court ruling that the tariffs were illegal. America is listening to FOX news.

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[Lisa Licera]

Concerns growing as drones are seen in the skies over US and European military.

[Jennifer Griffin]

Bases European NATO allies have logged 14 sightings of unidentified drones in just two months, another example of how drones are becoming a global menace, especially near military installations. The latest incident occurred above Belgium's Klein Brogel Air Base, reportedly home to US Tactical nukes. The unmanned drone reportedly hovered over a Belgian tactical fighter aircraft base for two nights from November 1st through November 3rd. The incident is reminiscent of the drone sightings over US bases like Langley Air Force Base last year. According to Belgian authorities, these drones came in two waves. First, small drones that tested the radio frequencies and then larger drones that drew concern from the public designed to create panic.

[Lisa Licera]

Fox's Jennifer Griffin in Washington. Some European officials have accused Russia of being behind the drones. Job creation is still muted, but it appears the job market turned around last month.

[Neila Richardson]

Private employers added 42,000 new jobs in October, as measured by payroll processing company adp. It's stronger than economists were predicting after jobs were lost in September. Workers are still getting raises. Annual pay rose 4.5% in October. ADP chief economist Neila Richardson. Jobs were added in October for the first time since July, but hiring was modest relative to earlier this year. The monthly employment report is suspended during the government shutdown. ADP's report isn't figured the same way as the Labor Department's, though it can be an indicator of how the job market's holding up. Ginny Kosola, Fox News the FDA's warning.

[Lisa Licera]

About unapproved versions of Botox and other anti wrinkle injections. The agency has sent 18 letters to websites offering counterfeit or or unofficial versions of the injectables. I'm Lisa Licera. This is FOX News.

[Will Tankersley]

It's Will Tank Country. Watch it live at noon Eastern Monday through Thursday atfox news.com or on the Fox News YouTube channel. And don't miss the show. Listen and follow the podcast five days a week at Fox newspodcasts.com or wherever you download your favorite podcasts.