As the country moves closer to a government shutdown, U.S. travelers wonder how travel could be affected. The U.S. Travel Association has warned that there could be dire consequences that could cost the industry an estimated $140 million per day, but travelers may not be affected right away.
Significant consequences are initially unlikely, though a long shutdown could impact future travel significantly. If the government shuts down, essential workers—including TSA agents and air traffic controllers—would be required to work without pay. So, while all safety precautions will still be in place, those workers would perform their already stressful jobs with the added stress of not getting paid.
If the shutdown continues for weeks, some workers may refuse to work. When the government shut down between December 2018 and January 2019, 10% of TSA officers stayed home. This resulted in fewer security checkpoints, leading to even longer waits for travelers. Air traffic controllers refusing to work led to a temporary shutdown at LaGuardia airport and major delays at Newark, Philadelphia and Atlanta airports.
As the Federal Aviation Administration is already dealing with a shortage of air traffic controllers, unscheduled absences could cause more flight delays and cancellations. A shutdown could also affect the situation long-term, slowing or halting the training of new air traffic controllers.
Passport processing would continue during a shutdown, though processing times could be delayed further. Global Entry and TSA PreCheck applications should also continue, but travelers could face delays in getting screening appointments.
A news release by the White House details the TSA and air traffic controllers in each state who would be forced to work without pay. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said at a news conference that “the consequences would be disruptive and dangerous.”
If Congress doesn’t agree to spending measures by Saturday at midnight, government funding will expire and a shutdown will commence.