Hundreds of flights were canceled across the United States on Friday after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers who are working without pay amid congressional paralysis on funding the US budget.

Forty airports were due to slow down, including the giant hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.

With Republicans and Democrats in a bitter standoff over spending priorities, including over healthcare, Congress has ground to a standstill, leaving the entire federal funding spigot closed. Vast numbers of government employees, including vital airport staff, are working either without pay or are at home furloughed, waiting for the now nearly six-week crisis to end.

The impact remained unclear early Friday, with the flight

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