FAA cutting flights

https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reduced-flights-a082a6817d960101968a923f7dfd8ef0

why exactly are they cutting back?

let see what the article says

From Friday to Sunday evening, at least 39 air traffic control
facilities reported potential staffing limits, according to an
Associated Press analysis of operations plans shared through the Air
Traffic Control System Command Center system. The figure, which is
likely an undercount, is well above the average for weekends before
the shutdown.

During weekends from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, the average number of airport
towers, regional control centers and facilities monitoring traffic at
higher altitudes that announced potential staffing issues was 8.3,
according to the AP analysis. But during the five weekend periods
since the shutdown began, the average more than tripled to 26.2
facilities.

OK - 'staffing limits' and 'potential staffing issues' - those are
DIRECT QUOTES from this AP article by RIO YAMAT -
Yamat is a national business reporter for The Associated Press. Based
in Las Vegas, she covers airlines, travel and tourism.