A private jet passes the control tower as it lands at Palm Beach International Airport on November 9, 2025, in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The Federal Aviation Administration warned airlines this week that it is investigating their compliance with an emergency flight-reduction order issued during the government shutdown. It said the companies are at risk of steep financial penalties if they did not trim their schedules as requested.

"The FAA alerted certain airlines that it’s investigating whether they complied with an Emergency Order mandating flight reductions at 40 high-impact airports to maintain safety during the government shutdown," the agency said in a statement. "The airlines are scheduled carriers that have more than 10 daily operations at any of the high-impact airports. The Nov. 12 Order stated that airlines could face fines of up to $75,000 per flight that exceeded the limits."

Under the emergency order, airlines operating at 40 major U.S. airports were required to trim, first 4%, then 6% of their scheduled flights. The order created a framework for cuts up to 10%, but the government shutdown ended before the tighter thresholds were enforced.

According to the FAA, the reductions were necessary to keep travelers safe. During the shutdown, air traffic controllers were required to work without pay, and as their unpaid time accumulated, many needed to take time off to earn other income.

The FAA's letter to airlines said it is monitoring compliance and has given the companies 30 days to provide evidence that they adhered to the emergency order. The agency did not specify which airlines are under investigation.

The Trump Administration provided $10,000 bonuses to air traffic controllers who did not miss a single shift during the shutdown. According to Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., only 4% of controllers qualified.

Duckworth sent a letter calling on the Department of Transportation to provide bonuses to all air traffic controllers who worked without pay during the shutdown, even if they missed a shift.

“Air Traffic Organization jobs are extremely stressful for good reason: one mistake may be deadly,” Duckworth's letter said. “These dedicated professionals must be at their best when on the job, but your policy encourages Air Traffic Controllers and Technicians to show up regardless of their health. That is incredibly dangerous. Sick leave exists for a reason. Claiming safety is a top priority is mere lip service if Air Traffic Controllers and Technicians fear using authorized leave, even when doing so best serves the safety of the (national airspace system) and health of their fellow FAA employees.”

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Airlines face steep fines as FAA investigates missed flight reductions

Reporting by Zach Wichter, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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