How Does The Government Shutdown Affect Travel?

Just after the clock struck midnight on Sept. 30, the United States government shut down. Despite controlling the Senate, House and White House, Republicans failed to pass legislation that would continue funding for government operations.

Many Americans are likely to feel the pinch. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees were furloughed. Essential federal employees will be required to continue working without pay, even though their rent and grocery bills still need to be paid. Funding for vital programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Head Start and some National Institutes of Health studies, is expected to dry up quickly.

Disrupted travel plans as a result of the shutdown may seem minor compared to these weightier issues. Nevertheless, it’s important to understand what the shutdown means for everything from national park closures to passport processing times.

Here are the answers to some common questions about how the shutdown could impact your travel plans.

During government shutdowns, essential employees, such as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents and air traffic controllers, are still required to work without pay. That means that most flights will continue to take off and land as scheduled. Nevertheless, air passengers should expect disruptions.

As low morale and financial strain take their toll, TSA agents and air traffic controllers may stop showing up for work. “During the 2018-2019 shutdown, TSA screener absentee rates hit 10%, three times the average, which led to longer security lines and some security checkpoint closures at airports, including Atlanta, Houston and Miami,” said Sarah Silbert, the managing editor at Points Path. That makes long TSA lines and flight delays likely.

Although flight cancellations are unlikely early in the shutdown, canceled flights become more likely the longer the shutdown drags on, she explained.

Most national park trails, lookouts, park roads and open-air monuments will remain open during the shutdown.

However, under the current shutdown, more than half of the National Park Service (NPS) employees will be furloughed. Additionally, many services will be halted or significantly reduced. For example, visitor centers…