(The Hill) – On Tuesday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is set to cut the number of flights nationwide by 6 percent, even as the conclusion of the government shutdown appears near.

Initially, last Friday, the FAA implemented a 4 percent reduction in flight capacity at 40 “high-traffic” airports. Starting Tuesday at 6 a.m., this reduction will increase to 6 percent, with further reductions to 8 percent and 10 percent planned for Thursday and Friday mornings, respectively.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford explained during a press conference last Thursday that the decision, driven by a significant shortage of air traffic controllers, aims to “reassure American travelers that it is absolutely safe to fly in the American skies.”

With the ongoing government shutdown, air traffic controllers are about to miss their second paycheck, prompting many to skip work and leading to flight disruptions nationwide.

Following the initial 4 percent reduction over the weekend, more than 4,500 flights within, to, or from the U.S. were canceled, as reported by the flight-tracking service FlightAware. As of Monday, over 2,300 additional flights have faced cancellations.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told CNN’s Jake Tapper Sunday that if the government shutdown continues, air travel will be “reduced to a trickle” before Thanksgiving. Duffy also said that “15 to 20” controllers are retiring per day during the shutdown, a significant increase from the roughly four controllers that were retiring daily before the funding lapse. 

The Senate passed a measure to reopen the government on Monday, after eight Senate Democratic Conference members joined 52 Republicans to advance the proposal Sunday. The measure, if it passes the Senate and the House, will then head to President Trump’s desk. 

The president, in a Monday post on his Truth Social platform, said controllers who do not return to work immediately will be “docked,” and floated $10,000 bonuses for those who worked during the shutdown.