NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?

SUMMARY

The FAA laid out a plan to cut as much as 10% percent of flights operating out of 40 major airports. Airlines already pre-emptively cancelled hundreds of flights in response. The Trump administration said the move was triggered by the government shutdown, as air traffic controllers working without pay have been calling in sick. Amna Nawaz discussed more with David Shepardson of Reuters News.

View the transcript of the story.

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. Where are flights being cut? (after you answer, see if the city you live in or near to is on the list of airports that will be affected)
2. Who is impacted by the cuts in air travel?
3. Why has the Trump administration decided to cancel flights?
4. How does this shutdown differ from past shutdowns as it relates to flight cancellations, according to David Shepardson?
5. Why did Rep. Larsen, a top Democrat on the Transportation Committee, say he wants to see the data as to whether or not the flight cancellations are necessary?

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

• Do you think airline disruptions will put pressure on elected officials to end the government shut down? Explain.

Media literacy:

Read this exchange once more from the video, and answer the question: Why is historical context (background information) important to include in a news story?

Amna Nawaz:

Let's just start with this. Have we ever seen anything like this before in a government shutdown?

David Shepardson:

It's unprecedented. And certainly in the 2019 shutdown, if you remember, that went about this level 35 days, and that was credited, that shutdown was credited with the end by the big disruption in aviation caused by controllers calling in sick in New York and D.C.

But the government did not take this extraordinary step of ordering the airlines to cut flights during that shutdown.

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO

Learn why the U.S. government has shut down by reading this excerpt from the BBC, and discuss with a classmate, family member or neighbor: What do you think it will take to end the government shutdown? Do compromises like the one on health care below need to be made and why?

"Republicans and Democrats could not agree to pass a bill funding government services past [October 1], when the previous federal budget expired.

In the US system, Congress must approve a spending plan to send to the president to be signed into law.

Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress. But in the Senate — or upper chamber — they are short of the 60 votes needed to pass the spending bill, which gives opposition Democrats some negotiating power.

Democrats want the bill to include an extension of expiring tax credits that make health insurance cheaper for millions of Americans and a reversal of Trump's cuts to Medicaid, a government healthcare program used by millions of elderly, disabled and low-income people.

Democrats also oppose spending cuts to government health agencies."

Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter with Daily News Lessons and community events.

To provide feedback on News Hour Classroom's resources, including this lesson, click here.