U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Wednesday that flights at 40 major U.S. airports would be reduced by 10%, citing air traffic control safety concerns as the government shutdown entered its 36th day.

Duffy said the cuts could be reversed if Democrats agreed to reopen the government.

The shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, has forced 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration agents to work without pay.

The Trump administration has sought to ramp up pressure on Democrats to end the shutdown and has increasingly raised the specter of dramatic aviation disruptions to force them to vote to reopen the government. Democrats contend Republicans are to blame for refusing to negotiate over key health care subsidies.

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