The Department of Justice has reportedly opened a corruption probe into Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser over a Qatar-funded flight.

The mayor’s office said that it had not been notified of any investigation into the mayor’s travel. It confirmed the flight at the center of the reported probe, but said that all “proper paperwork for this standard donation is on file,” according to The New York Times.

“We have checked with our lawyers, and the District has not been notified of any investigation. This was a business trip; DC representatives regularly travel to promote Washington as a destination for investment and growth. This regular work has helped bring investment, infrastructure, new business, new grocery stores, growth, and jobs to the District,” Bowser’s office told Newsweek in a statement.

“In some cases, economic development funds are used for the business travel; in other cases, the host or organizer cover the expenses,” the statement continued.

The Justice Department reportedly began to scrutinize the mayor’s overseas travels after a local D.C. outlet, WJLA, reported that Qatar paid $61,930 for flights to Doha for the mayor and four of her staff in 2023. Afterward, the mayor and her entourage jetted over to Dubai for a climate change conference.

Bowser kept poor records of her trip to Qatar and other jaunts in the United States and to other foreign countries, according to WJLA. At the time of the report, WJLA found no record of a donation agreement between the mayor’s office and Qatar, which is required by D.C. law.

When first questioned about the trip, Bowser’s office initially claimed that it has been covered by the D.C. Chamber of Commerce before telling reporters that the cost was actually born by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. WJLA later discovered that the trip was in part funded by the Qatari government after obtaining documents through an open records request.

Delta and United, two of the largest airlines in the United States, announced on Thursday that they are already canceling flights scheduled for this weekend due to the Federal Aviation Administration’s flight reductions that will go into effect on Friday due to the government shutdown.

Delta said that around 170 flights would be canceled on Friday, mostly affecting regional flights, CNN reported.

“Delta is complying with a directive from the FAA and the U.S. Department of Transportation to reduce flights at 40 major U.S. airports beginning Friday, Nov 7,” the airline said, adding, “These flight reductions are in response to air traffic control staffing shortages stemming from the ongoing government shutdown and are intended to maintain safety across the national airspace system.”

United, meanwhile, is set to cancel 4% of its flights over the weekend, which will add up to just under 200 flights daily, USA Today reported. United and Delta aren’t the only airlines affected by the flight reductions, as over 500 flights from all airlines have already been canceled this weekend, the Associated Press reported.

The White House’s Rapid Response X account responded to the news of the flight cancellations, writing, “Thank A Democrat.”

“@united is now cancelling hundreds of flights originally scheduled for tomorrow due to the Democrat Shutdown,” the White House added. “This could’ve all been avoided if Democrats simply did their jobs. Instead, they chose chaos.”

.@united is now cancelling hundreds of flights originally scheduled for tomorrow due to the Democrat Shutdown.

This could’ve all been avoided if Democrats simply did their jobs. Instead, they chose chaos. pic.twitter.com/TpJqlXhxJn

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 6, 2025

The government shutdown entered its 37th day on Thursday, with no sign of a deal on a spending bill coming anytime soon as Democratic senators continue to hold out.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Wednesday that the FAA would be slashing air traffic by 10% at 40 of the busiest airports beginning on Friday. The drastic move is to ensure that air travel remains safe as the government faces an air traffic controller shortage. Due to the government shutdown, air traffic controllers have gone weeks without pay, leading some to call in sick and seek work elsewhere.

The reduction in air traffic comes just weeks before the Thanksgiving holiday, which is typically the busiest travel weekend of the year in the United States. Here’s the complete list of airports that are expected to be affected by the flight reduction compiled in alphabetical order:

Anchorage International (ANC) Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) Boston Logan International (BOS) Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG) Dallas Love (DAL) Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) Denver International (DEN) Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW) Newark Liberty International (EWR) Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International (FLL) Honolulu International (HNL) Houston Hobby (HOU) Washington Dulles International (IAD) George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH) Indianapolis International (IND) New York John F Kennedy International (JFK) Las Vegas Harry Reid International (LAS) Los Angeles International (LAX) New York LaGuardia (LGA) Orlando International (MCO) Chicago Midway (MDW) Memphis International (MEM) Miami International (MIA) Minneapolis/St Paul International (MSP) Oakland International (OAK) Ontario International (ONT) Chicago O’Hare International (ORD) Portland International (PDX) Philadelphia International (PHL) Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) San Diego International (SAN) Louisville International (SDF) Seattle/Tacoma International (SEA) San Francisco International (SFO) Salt Lake City International (SLC) Teterboro (TEB) Tampa International (TPA)