How will a government shutdown affect travel?

After briefly avoiding a government shutdown in September with a short-term funding bill, Congress is once again scrambling to pass a spending bill ahead of Christmas.

The government will shut down if Congress fails to act before the short-term funding expires at 12:01 a.m. EST Saturday, Dec. 21.

When a government shutdown occurs, most federal agencies stop working, and most government workers are furloughed; this excludes those who work in agencies deemed to provide “essential services,” such as U.S. Transportation Security Administration workers.

Most of the other federal workers involved with air travel are also considered essential.

Further fueling the fire is the timing of an impending government shutdown right before a holiday travel season that’s expected to be one of the busiest on record.

According to TSA administrator David Pekoske, the agency expects to screen 40 million passengers traveling over Christmas through Jan. 2, 2025.

It’s unlikely that there would be major travel disruptions caused by the government shutdown. However, it is possible that a government shutdown may cause longer TSA wait times and an overall slowdown in passport processing times — something that may feel even more inconvenient during the holidays.

How would a government shutdown affect air travel?

The good news is that air travelers would not see much of an impact, at least at first, because the TSA and the Federal Aviation Administration are considered essential services. So, airport security workers and air traffic controllers will still be required to work even though they will not receive paychecks until the shutdown ends.

However, absenteeism could present a significant challenge for these two agencies, and the FAA continues to struggle with labor shortages since the pandemic, leading to flight cuts at major airports.

About a month into a government shutdown in 2019, an increased number of air traffic controllers called in sick or fatigued. This led to a temporary shutdown at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and delays at airports such as Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). That ultimately helped end the shutdown: Long airport lines provided bad optics, and consumers pressured legislators to get a deal done.

Will TSA wait times be longer during the shutdown?

Per the TSA, nearly all of its 62,000 employees are considered essential and thus would continue working in the event of a shutdown. Even so, the agency warned that a shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports over the holidays.

“While our personnel are prepared to handle high volumes of travelers and ensure safe travel, please be aware that an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports. TSA employees would be required to remain on the job since they’re considered essential,” Pekoske said on X on Dec. 19. “However, they would not receive paychecks until the government reopens (at which point they’ll receive back pay). That means that absenteeism is possible, as with other employees, and workers are less likely to volunteer for overtime shifts.”

During the 2018-19 shutdown, many officers called in sick for the latter part, leading to longer lines at some airports. At the height of the shutdown, 10% of TSA officers nationwide called in sick.

To plan for any delays, it would be smart to get to the airport a bit earlier than usual, particularly during the holidays.

Would national parks stay open during a government shutdown?

During past government shutdowns, national parks remained open to visitors. However, as most workers were furloughed, national parks became filled with litter and experienced overflowing toilets. Visitors even vandalized some of the property.

Because the National Park Service relies on government funding, certain NPS sites — including national parks and monuments — would be affected due to staffing issues, according to a contingency report for a potential lapse in appropriations issued by NPS in March 2024.

“National Park Service sites will be closed during the period of a lapse in appropriations. This means that the majority of National Park sites will be closed completely to public access. Areas that by their nature are physically accessible to the public will face significantly reduced visitor services,” the report reads. “Accordingly, the public will be encouraged not to visit National Park sites during the period of lapse in appropriations.”

The NPS encourages visitors to reference Recreation.gov, individual parks and state tourism pages for real-time updates.

For example, Saguaro National Park in Tuscon says visitor services would be available through Sunday, Dec. 22, should funding lapse.

“We are reviewing the NPS contingency plan and working to determine specific impacts at Saguaro National Park,” a spokesperson for the park said via email.

The Utah Tourism Office said Utah national parks currently remain open. Per the Utah Office of Tourism, the state’s Governor, Spencer Cox, will keep Utah’s national parks open should there be a government shutdown.

“Regardless of the status of our national parks, Utah’s State Parks will remain open, staffed, and ready to welcome visitors,” a spokesperson from the tourism office said via email.

If you had planned on visiting a National Park that is affected by the shutdown, consider state parks or unofficial National Parks, such as the Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction.

What about museums like the Smithsonian?

Many museums in Washington, D.C. — such as the Smithsonian Institution, the National Zoo and the National Gallery of Art — are federally funded. They’ll stay open or provide limited access if they’ve set aside reserve funding, per the Washington, D.C. tourism board.

This is similar to what happened during the shutdown that began on Dec. 21, 2018; the Smithsonian stayed open for an extra 11 days before running out of money and closing on Jan. 1. It then reopened along with the government at the end of the month.

Would Amtrak trains be affected by a government shutdown?

Amtrak trains are expected to keep running as usual during the shutdown.

Amtrak receives some funding from the federal government and from states where it operates. It’s a federally chartered corporation that is indirectly managed by the government. However, it operates as a private for-profit business rather than a public authority.

In essence, it’s a for-profit corporation, but the federal government is the majority stockholder.

Trains will continue to operate as usual, and employees will continue to be paid, as was the case in past shutdowns. However, the longer the shutdown drags on, the more likely it is that some of Amtrak’s subsidies could be delayed, which could eventually have an impact.

Can I renew my passport during the shutdown?

According to the U.S. State Department, passport processing is essential and will continue during the shutdown.

However, some passport offices could close if they’re in buildings run by a different shuttered agency; operations could cease altogether if the department runs out of unused money carried over from past years.

State Department employees would be working without paychecks, though; therefore, absenteeism is always possible. A prolonged shutdown could lead to an overall slowdown in passport processing times. So, if your passport is set to expire in the coming months, you may want to send in your renewal as soon as possible.

The good news is that post offices will remain open. Since the postal service does not rely on federal funds, applications can be mailed and completed in person.

Will the shutdown impact cruises?

For the most part, cruises won’t be affected at all by the shutdown.

Previous shutdowns have had little noticeable impact, and services like customs and the U.S. Coast Guard remain operational even as the government closes.

Can you cross the border during the government shutdown?

Yes. Like ports and airports, border crossings will remain open during the shutdown. The Border Patrol, along with much of federal law enforcement, is deemed essential.

How would a government shutdown affect the travel industry?

While travel for Americans probably wouldn’t be heavily affected by a government shutdown, the shutdown would still have significant consequences for the travel industry.

The U.S. economy could lose about $140 million a day during a government shutdown, according to the U.S. Travel Association. This is partly from longer wait times at airports and deferred modernization projects. Additionally, processing times for passports, visas and Global Entry could take longer. This could lead visitors to postpone or cancel travel plans.

Bottom line

The government has less than 12 hours to partially fund the government through March 2025. If the potential government shutdown were to turn into a longer-term one, travelers could expect to see even more hiccups.

“A prolonged government shutdown threatens holiday travel disruptions that Americans won’t tolerate,” Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, said in a statement. “It’s hard to see how anyone in Congress wins if they force TSA workers, air traffic controllers, and other essential employees to work without pay during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.”

In the short term, this means planning for more time to pass through security at U.S. airports if you’re traveling this weekend and next week.

Don’t forget to pack your patience.

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