How a US Government Shutdown Affects Air Travel, National Parks and Tourist Attractions: What Travelers Need to Know

Air traffic controllers have previously taken legal action against the government to secure their paychecks during shutdowns.

Washington:

A prolonged U.S. government shutdown could significantly disrupt travel plans, potentially resulting in extended airport wait times, flight delays, and even cancellations.

The shutdown commenced Wednesday when President Donald Trump and Congress failed to reach an agreement on continued funding for government services and operations. Consequently, the majority of employees responsible for maintaining U.S. airports and air travel operations are working without compensation until the government reopens.

Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, cautioned in a statement: "The longer a shutdown drags on, the more likely we are to see longer TSA lines, flight delays and cancellations, national parks in disrepair and unnecessary delays in modernizing travel infrastructure."

Here's what travelers should know about the shutdown and its potential impact on travel plans.

Despite the funding lapse, air travel continues to operate, and travelers may not notice any issues at airports during the initial phase of the shutdown.

Control towers and airport security checkpoints will remain staffed, with approximately 13,200 air traffic controllers and over 61,000 Transportation Security Administration employees expected to continue working.

However, as workers go longer without paychecks, travelers might begin experiencing extended security lines and flight disruptions, according to Jeffrey Price, professor of aviation at the Metropolitan State University of Denver.

"The system does become a little bit more brittle, the longer this goes, the more the traveler is going to notice it," Price explained.

This scenario played out during the 2018-2019 shutdown under Trump's first term, which lasted a record 35 days.

About three weeks into that shutdown, some unpaid security screeners began calling in sick, and air traffic controllers filed lawsuits against the government seeking their paychecks. Miami International Airport had to temporarily close one terminal because TSA officers were calling in sick at twice the normal rate.

The current shutdown occurs when both the TSA and Federal Aviation Administration are already facing staffing shortages, including a deficit of approximately 3,000 air traffic controllers.

If the system cannot handle scheduled flights, the FAA will reduce landing and takeoff rates, resulting in more delays and cancellations for passengers. The agency has recently implemented such measures when controller shortages affected flights at Newark airport following technical issues.

Nick Daniels, president of the air traffic controllers union, warned that a shutdown compromises aviation safety by adding stress to controllers and removing many support staff who maintain the outdated systems controllers rely on.

"They're out there working right now with critical staffing — the lowest staffing we've had in decades of only 10,800, where there should be 14,633. And on top of that, they're working with unreliable equipment," Daniels stated.

During the previous 35-day shutdown under Trump, controllers at the busiest U.S. air traffic facilities reported working up to 60 hours weekly, while increasing numbers of TSA agents resigned.

"This is more than just an inconvenience to the traveler," Price emphasized regarding the shutdown. "This is definitely going to bring up safety and security issues, if it really starts to go into the long term."

For international travelers, ports of entry are expected to remain open according to the Department of Homeland Security's contingency plan.

The department estimates about 63,000 Customs and Border Protection workers will continue reporting to work. These employees are responsible for border protection and monitoring traffic at official entry points, including airports and land crossings from Canada and Mexico.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which oversees naturalization processes, is primarily funded through application fees, meaning federal funding lapses minimally impact most passport and visa processing.

Agency spokesperson Matthew Tragesser noted in a statement, however, that the shutdown temporarily suspends the E-Verify program, a free online system employers use to confirm work authorization for new employees.

Smithsonian museums, research centers, and the National Zoo are scheduled to remain open to visitors through at least October 6. Further updates will be posted on the Smithsonian website.

The Smithsonian represents the world's largest museum complex, comprising 17 museums and a zoo in the Washington, D.C. area, plus two museums in New York City.

National Parks will largely remain open during the shutdown.

According to the National Park Service's contingency plan, park roads, lookouts, trails, and open-air memorials will "generally remain accessible to visitors." However, parks without "accessible areas" will close, and additional sites may shut down if park resources are damaged or garbage accumulates during the shutdown.

The park service manages 400 sites, including major national parks like Yellowstone and Grand Canyon, national battlefields, and national monuments such as the Statue of Liberty.