WASHINGTON — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Wednesday that he would order 10% of flights at 40 major U.S. airports to be cut starting Friday unless a deal to end the federal government shutdown is reached.

The shutdown, now in its 36th day and the longest in U.S. history, has forced 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration agents to work without pay. This has worsened staff shortages, caused widespread flight delays and extended lines at airport security screening.

“We had a gut check of what is our job,” Duffy told reporters, explaining why he made the decision.

Reuters earlier reported the plan.

While the government did not name the 40 airports affected, the cuts were expected to hit the 30 busiest airports including those ser

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