FAA to cut airline traffic by 10 % at 40 major U.S. airports if shutdown drags on
Five-hour TSA lines and 6,000 flight delays underscore shutdown’s toll on U.S. air travel
DHS ends Temporary Protected Status for 5,000 South Sudanese, setting 60-day exit clock
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USCIS lets states verify voter rolls with partial Social Security numbers via SAVE database
USCIS now permits states to use the SAVE database with only the last four digits of a registrant’s SSN to verify citizenship for voter-registration and roll-maintenance purposes. The expansion could improve election integrity but raises data-accuracy concerns for naturalized citizens and highlights broader government use of immigration databases.
Shutdown or not, DOL resumes H-1B processing as DHS curtails automatic EAD extensions
On November 5, university compliance experts reported that the Labor Department has resumed processing H-1B-related applications during the shutdown, while a DHS interim final rule issued October 30 ends most automatic 180-day EAD extensions. Employers can again file LCAs, but must closely track EAD renewal timelines to avoid work-authorization gaps.
Record-long U.S. shutdown forces FAA to plan nationwide flight reductions
On Nov 4 the U.S. shutdown hit day 35, making it the longest in history. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the FAA will slash capacity at 40 major airports starting Nov 7, citing unpaid controller shortages that are already causing hours-long delays. The looming cuts threaten Thanksgiving travel, disrupt expatriate moves and stall airport modernization projects.
Labor Department reopens H-1B and PERM portals after shutdown outage
After a 30-day shutdown-related outage, the Labor Department’s FLAG system reopened on Nov 4, allowing employers to resume filing H-1B LCAs and PERM labor certifications. Backlogged cases are now moving, but residual delays and advertising-window issues remain. Mobility teams should re-file lapsed applications immediately and watch for policy changes to prevent future shutdown disruptions.
Bomb threat grounds flights at Reagan National, heightening security checks nationwide
A phoned-in bomb threat against a United Airlines flight triggered a one-hour ground stop at Washington’s Reagan National Airport on Nov 4, causing more than 200 delays and diversions nationwide. Though no device was found, TSA and FBI have stepped up security screenings. Travelers to the capital region should expect longer queues and consider using IAD or BWI.
DOT English-proficiency crackdown sidelines 7,200 immigrant truck drivers
Citing safety and a new federal language mandate, the DOT confirmed on Nov 4 that more than 7,200 truck drivers have been sidelined in 2025 for failing English-proficiency tests. The crackdown disproportionately affects immigrant drivers, risks deepening the driver shortage and could raise relocation and supply-chain costs.