Another federal government shutdown is looming this weekend – and with no signs of a deal in Congress after several failed attempts, it seems all but certain. If past shutdowns are any indication, travelers in the U.S. will feel the pain, adding additional chaos during an already hectic holiday travel season.
The federal government will shut down if Congress fails to pass a funding package by Saturday morning, ceasing all non-essential operations. While airport security checkpoints will remain open, the Biden administration has warned it could eventually disrupt the nation’s air travel system.
If it sounds familiar, it should. The U.S. government shut down for a record five weeks back in late 2018, stretching into early 2019. While planes kept flying, problems mounted as the stoppage dragged on: TSA workers began calling in sick rather than report for unpaid work, Global Entry applications stood in limbo, and some airlines’ new planes and routes were kept on the ground.
The lesson? The longer a shutdown drags on, the worse it could get for travel. Here’s a look at what’s at stake this time.
Planes Will Keep Flying, But…
Short answer: Yes.
Airport workers like air traffic controllers are considered essential employees so they’ll continue to work throughout the shutdown, making sure planes take off and land as normal. Travelers don’t have to worry about canceling any upcoming trips.
But ahead of past government shutdowns, federal officials warned it could lead to more issues in the long run by exacerbating an air traffic controller shortage that has caused countless flight delays and cancellations. With the government shut down, all hiring and training of additional air traffic controllers ceases. So while things could move smoothly throughout a shutdown with current employees still on the job, it could lead to more disruptions in the future.
“After everything that we have been through, after all of the disruptions to air travel, especially the ones that we saw last year, we have finally seen cancellations and delays get back down to normal levels. In fact, we’ve finally seen cancellations and delays get back down to pre-pandemic levels,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said at a press conference last year before a previous possible shutdown. “But a shutdown would stop all of that progress. It would mean we would immediately have to stop training air traffic controllers and furlough another 1,000 controllers that are already in the training pipeline.”
Expect Longer Lines at Security (Eventually)
The timing couldn’t be much worse: After shattering previous travel records over Thanksgiving, federal transportation officials are bracing for another surge for the holidays.
But a shutdown won’t mean airport security agents will walk off the job and leave … at least not right away.
TSA agents are deemed essential employees and will be required to work during the shutdown. Here’s the thing: They won’t be getting paid. So while TSA checkpoints at airports should continue to operate as normal – just with more crowds than usual as Christmas and New Year’s approach – that could change the longer the shutdown drags on.
That’s exactly what happened in the previous shutdown before the pandemic: TSA agents began calling in sick, leading to some lengthy delays at security. The problem even got so bad in Miami (MIA) that the airport closed one of its terminals early on the weekends, forcing some flights to depart from different terminals.
TSA agents are some of the lowest-paid workers in the federal workforce at an understaffed agency. Working unpaid can take its toll.
“We expect to screen 40 million passengers over the holidays and through Jan. 2,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske wrote on social media Thursday. “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.”
It’s impossible to guess whether security will be a breeze or a nightmare for your next flight. Play it safe: Arrive earlier than you normally would, especially over the holidays and if we get through next week with no signs of a federal spending package.
What About Getting Global Entry or TSA PreCheck?
Global Entry is a must-have for international travelers, allowing you to breeze through customs and immigration after returning to the U.S. And better yet, you can get it for free with a handful of different credit cards.
But once a shutdown begins, everything grinds to a halt.
While TSA agents are deemed essential and required to work during a shutdown, that’s not the case for the bulk of Customs and Border Protection employees. That means new Global Entry applications likely won’t be processed. And securing an in-person interview – the final step in your Global Entry enrollment – will be impossible, as enrollment centers will be closed during a shutdown, too.
Bigger picture, the last federal government shutdown contributed to a massive backlog of applications that persists today. It’s part of the reason why many Global Entry applicants still wait months – in some cases, more than a year – in order to get conditional approval.
But if you’ve already got Global Entry, you’re set. You should have no problem cruising through customs and immigration. If not, check out Mobile Passport in the meantime. This free smartphone app will get you into a dedicated fast lane when returning to the U.S.
TSA PreCheck, the trusted traveler program that helps you get through security faster, works a bit differently. TSA PreCheck enrollment centers will continue to operate, so you’ll still be able to apply for and finish your TSA PreCheck enrollment during a shutdown.
Just bear in mind: If the shutdown drags on, even travelers with PreCheck on their boarding passes may feel the pain in the security queues.
Can I Still Get a Passport?
After brutally long waits of six months or more a year ago, passport applications are moving faster than ever in 2024. A shutdown won’t bring passport processing to a halt … but it may not help, either.
The State Department has previously said that passport and visa services in the U.S. and abroad will continue as the budget permits. However, passport agencies located inside federal government building would also shutter during a shutdown, which could would lead to further delays.
Currently, it takes four to six weeks for routine passport processing – regardless of whether you’re applying for your first passport or using the federal government’s new online renewal system. Paying for expedited service, the turnaround time is down to just two to three weeks.
If you’re applying for a passport for the first time, you’ll still be able to submit your application at a passport acceptance facility such as a post office, clerk of court office, or a public library. Online renewal passport submissions should continue as normal, too.
But travelers who are scrambling for a last-minute passport will have fewer options to make an in-person appointment during a federal government shutdown.
Bottom Line
The U.S. government is barreling toward a government shutdown that could begin this Saturday, Dec. 21.
Aside from the usual chaos of holiday travel, there likely won’t be many immediate impacts for travelers: Planes will continue flying and airport security checkpoints will remain open. But other services could feel the pain.
But the longer a shutdown drags on, the more problems travelers may encounter.
