By — Rio Yamat, Associated Press Rio Yamat, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/how-your-travel-plans-could-be-affected-by-a-prolonged-government-shutdown Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter How your travel plans could be affected by a prolonged government shutdown Nation Oct 2, 2025 5:08 PM EDT If a U.S. government shutdown goes on long enough, it could throw a wrench in travel plans, potentially leading to longer airport wait times, flight delays and even cancellations. The shutdown began Wednesday after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to reach a deal to continue funding government services and operations. That means a vast majority of employees who keep U.S. airports and air travel running are working without pay until the government reopens. INTERACTIVE: How the government shutdown affects different agencies “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,” Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, warned in a statement. Here’s what to know about the shutdown and its potential impacts on your travel plans. Flying during a shutdown Travelers can still fly despite the lapse in funding, and early on in the shutdown, they might not even notice any issues at the airport. Control towers and airport security checkpoints will still be staffed, with about 13,200 air traffic controllers and more than 61,000 Transportation Security Administration employees expected to remain on the job. READ MORE: After 20 years, American travelers may no longer be required to remove shoes before boarding plane But as more time passes for the workers since their last paycheck, travelers could start to see longer lines at security and flight interruptions, said Jeffrey Price, professor of aviation at the Metropolitan State University of Denver. “The system does become a little bit more brittle, and the longer this goes, the more the traveler is going to notice it,” Price said. That’s what happened in 2018 and 2019, when Trump led the country into its longest shutdown ever for 35 days during his first term. About three weeks into that shutdown, some unpaid security screeners started calling in sick, and air traffic controllers sued the government in a bid to get their paychecks. Miami International Airport had to temporarily close one of its terminals because TSA officers were calling in sick at twice the airport’s usual rate. WATCH: Why culture shock is a valuable part of ‘thoughtful travel,’ according to Rick Steves The latest shutdown is unfolding at a time when both the TSA and the Federal Aviation Administration are already facing staffing shortages, including a shortage of about 3,000 air traffic controllers. If the system can’t handle the number of flights that are scheduled, the FAA will slow down landings and take offs and passengers will see more delays and cancellations. Safety at airports and in the air A commercial airliner takes off past the air traffic control tower at San Diego International Airport during the first day of a partial government shutdown in San Diego, California, on Oct. 1, 2025. Photo by Mike Blake/ Reuters Nick Daniels, president of the union that represents air traffic controllers, said a shutdown weakens the aviation safety system by adding stress on controllers and taking away many of the workers who support them and maintain the outdated system they rely on. WATCH: Inside the store selling unclaimed luggage and how to keep your bags from ending up there “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 said. During the 35-day shutdown during Trump’s first term, controllers in the busiest U.S. air traffic facilities reported working as much as 60 hours per week, and an increasing number of TSA agents also quit their jobs. “This is more than just an inconvenience to the traveler,” Price said of the shutdown. “This is definitely going to bring up safety and security issues, if it really starts to go into the long term.” Travel by train Amtrak says its passengers trains will continue running. It operates more than 300 trains daily in 46 states, the D.C. area and three Canadian provinces. WATCH: Why women are drawn to solo travel and how the tourism industry is responding In a statement, the country’s rail operator said that passengers planning to travel on its trains “in the coming days and weeks can be assured that Amtrak will remain open for business.” International travel into the U.S. The entrance to Cabrillo National Monument is shown closed during the first day of a partial U.S. government shutdown in San Diego, California, on October 1, 2025. Photo by Mike Blake/ Reuters Ports of entry into the country are expected to stay open for international travelers, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s contingency plan. The department estimated that about 63,000 workers at Customs and Border Protection would still report to work. They include employees who are responsible for protecting the country’s borders and monitoring traffic coming into the U.S. at official border crossings, like airports and land crossings from Canada and Mexico. Passports and visas The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency responsible for overseeing the naturalization process, is primarily funded by application fees, meaning a lapse in funding at the federal government has minimal impacts on most passport and visa processing. WATCH: How funding cuts to national parks may harm the communities around them Agency spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said in a statement, however, that the shutdown does temporarily shutter the agency’s E-Verify program, a free online system that employers can use to confirm their new employees are authorized to work in the U.S. Museums and national parks A sign for a closed exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, which remains open during the first day of a partial government shutdown, in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 1, 2025. Photo by Annabelle Gordon/ Reuters Smithsonian museums, research centers and the National Zoo were scheduled to stay open to the public through at least Oct. 6. Further updates will be posted on the Smithsonian website. The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum complex, with 17 museums and its zoo located in the Washington, D.C. area, as well as two museums in New York City. National Parks will remain mostly open during the shutdown. READ MORE: Wonders of the National Park System are in every state. Here’s where to find one near you The National Park Service’s contingency plan says park roads, lookouts, trails and open-air memorials will “generally remain accessible to visitors.” But parks without ”accessible areas” will be closed, and additional sites could shutter if damage is done to park resources or garbage builds up during the shutdown. The park service oversees 400 sites, including large national parks such as Yellowstone and Grand Canyon, national battlefields and national monuments like the Statue of Liberty. Associated Press transportation reporter Josh Funk contributed from Omaha, Nebraska. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Rio Yamat, Associated Press Rio Yamat, Associated Press
If a U.S. government shutdown goes on long enough, it could throw a wrench in travel plans, potentially leading to longer airport wait times, flight delays and even cancellations. The shutdown began Wednesday after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to reach a deal to continue funding government services and operations. That means a vast majority of employees who keep U.S. airports and air travel running are working without pay until the government reopens. INTERACTIVE: How the government shutdown affects different agencies “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,” Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, warned in a statement. Here’s what to know about the shutdown and its potential impacts on your travel plans. Flying during a shutdown Travelers can still fly despite the lapse in funding, and early on in the shutdown, they might not even notice any issues at the airport. Control towers and airport security checkpoints will still be staffed, with about 13,200 air traffic controllers and more than 61,000 Transportation Security Administration employees expected to remain on the job. READ MORE: After 20 years, American travelers may no longer be required to remove shoes before boarding plane But as more time passes for the workers since their last paycheck, travelers could start to see longer lines at security and flight interruptions, said Jeffrey Price, professor of aviation at the Metropolitan State University of Denver. “The system does become a little bit more brittle, and the longer this goes, the more the traveler is going to notice it,” Price said. That’s what happened in 2018 and 2019, when Trump led the country into its longest shutdown ever for 35 days during his first term. About three weeks into that shutdown, some unpaid security screeners started calling in sick, and air traffic controllers sued the government in a bid to get their paychecks. Miami International Airport had to temporarily close one of its terminals because TSA officers were calling in sick at twice the airport’s usual rate. WATCH: Why culture shock is a valuable part of ‘thoughtful travel,’ according to Rick Steves The latest shutdown is unfolding at a time when both the TSA and the Federal Aviation Administration are already facing staffing shortages, including a shortage of about 3,000 air traffic controllers. If the system can’t handle the number of flights that are scheduled, the FAA will slow down landings and take offs and passengers will see more delays and cancellations. Safety at airports and in the air A commercial airliner takes off past the air traffic control tower at San Diego International Airport during the first day of a partial government shutdown in San Diego, California, on Oct. 1, 2025. Photo by Mike Blake/ Reuters Nick Daniels, president of the union that represents air traffic controllers, said a shutdown weakens the aviation safety system by adding stress on controllers and taking away many of the workers who support them and maintain the outdated system they rely on. WATCH: Inside the store selling unclaimed luggage and how to keep your bags from ending up there “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 said. During the 35-day shutdown during Trump’s first term, controllers in the busiest U.S. air traffic facilities reported working as much as 60 hours per week, and an increasing number of TSA agents also quit their jobs. “This is more than just an inconvenience to the traveler,” Price said of the shutdown. “This is definitely going to bring up safety and security issues, if it really starts to go into the long term.” Travel by train Amtrak says its passengers trains will continue running. It operates more than 300 trains daily in 46 states, the D.C. area and three Canadian provinces. WATCH: Why women are drawn to solo travel and how the tourism industry is responding In a statement, the country’s rail operator said that passengers planning to travel on its trains “in the coming days and weeks can be assured that Amtrak will remain open for business.” International travel into the U.S. The entrance to Cabrillo National Monument is shown closed during the first day of a partial U.S. government shutdown in San Diego, California, on October 1, 2025. Photo by Mike Blake/ Reuters Ports of entry into the country are expected to stay open for international travelers, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s contingency plan. The department estimated that about 63,000 workers at Customs and Border Protection would still report to work. They include employees who are responsible for protecting the country’s borders and monitoring traffic coming into the U.S. at official border crossings, like airports and land crossings from Canada and Mexico. Passports and visas The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency responsible for overseeing the naturalization process, is primarily funded by application fees, meaning a lapse in funding at the federal government has minimal impacts on most passport and visa processing. WATCH: How funding cuts to national parks may harm the communities around them Agency spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said in a statement, however, that the shutdown does temporarily shutter the agency’s E-Verify program, a free online system that employers can use to confirm their new employees are authorized to work in the U.S. Museums and national parks A sign for a closed exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, which remains open during the first day of a partial government shutdown, in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 1, 2025. Photo by Annabelle Gordon/ Reuters Smithsonian museums, research centers and the National Zoo were scheduled to stay open to the public through at least Oct. 6. Further updates will be posted on the Smithsonian website. The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum complex, with 17 museums and its zoo located in the Washington, D.C. area, as well as two museums in New York City. National Parks will remain mostly open during the shutdown. READ MORE: Wonders of the National Park System are in every state. Here’s where to find one near you The National Park Service’s contingency plan says park roads, lookouts, trails and open-air memorials will “generally remain accessible to visitors.” But parks without ”accessible areas” will be closed, and additional sites could shutter if damage is done to park resources or garbage builds up during the shutdown. The park service oversees 400 sites, including large national parks such as Yellowstone and Grand Canyon, national battlefields and national monuments like the Statue of Liberty. Associated Press transportation reporter Josh Funk contributed from Omaha, Nebraska. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now