- Government shutdown could cost travel economy $1 billion weekly.
- Essential transportation services such as TSA and air traffic control will still operate.
- People will still be able to receive visas and passports during a shutdown.
As the possibility of a government shutdown continues to loom, here’s a look at how a government shutdown would impact U.S. travel.
While some government services within the travel industry will continue to operate, there will likely be delays and other services will be shut down.
A potential shutdown could negatively impact the country’s travel economy — the U.S. Travel Association predicts a loss of $1 billion every week of a shutdown.
“What we’ve seen in the past when the government shuts down is that airports slow down and our economy slows down with it,” said Erik Hansen, senior vice president of government relations at the U.S. Travel Association, according to USA Today.
Essential vs. nonessential services
During a government shutdown, any federal agencies and services that are deemed “nonessential” must stop working.
That means any employees in these “nonessential” jobs will be furloughed until the shutdown ends, according to USA Today.
Services deemed essential, such as the U.S. Postal Service and Medicare, will continue and those employees still have to report to work but they will not be paid.
Essential employees who worked without pay and nonessential employees who were furloughed will receive back pay after a shutdown ends, per NBC News.
How a government shutdown could impact air travel
Workers at airports, such as TSA officers and air traffic controllers, are considered essential, so they will still be required to work — without pay — during a shutdown.
While current workers will continue working, actions like hiring or training employees would be put on hold, per USA Today.
“Our expectation and history shows that air travel continues to be safe, but history also shows that when workers, whether it’s air traffic controllers or Transportation Security officers, have to continually show up for work without pay, it adds additional stress,” said Hansen, with the U.S. Travel Association, according to USA Today.
According to The New York Times, there are 61,000 TSA workers and more than 13,000 air traffic controllers who are employed across the country.
The longer a shutdown lasts, the more likely it is that there will be long security lines at airports and numerous delayed flights. During the most recent government shutdown, which lasted from December 2018 to January 2019, TSA agents called out sick at higher rates, leading to issues at airports.
How a government shutdown could impact rail travel
Amtrak does receive public funding, but it operates as an independent company, meaning it will continue normal operations during a government shutdown.
“Passengers planning to travel on Amtrak trains in the Northeast Corridor and across the country in the coming days and weeks can be assured that Amtrak will remain open for business,” W. Kyle Anderson, an Amtrak spokesman, said in a statement, per The New York Times.
What a government shutdown means for museums
It is likely that the museums within the Smithsonian complex will be affected by closures during a shutdown. The Smithsonian oversees 21 museums and the National Zoo, most of which are in Washington, D.C., but two are in New York City, per CNN.
The Smithsonian is considered nonessential, along with the National Park Service, which could be impacted by a number of closures across its parks and monuments.
What a government shutdown means for those applying for passports and visas
Processing for visas and passports will not be immediately affected by a shutdown, as these services are considered essential.
According to CNN, a State Department spokesperson gave a statement on Monday, saying: “Consular operations domestically and abroad will remain operational. This includes passports, visas, and assisting U.S. citizens abroad.”
Will border control be impacted by a government shutdown?
All of the country’s borders and entry ports will stay open and most immigration, border and customs agents will continue to work, per The New York Times.
Operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement will also continue, as most of its employees are considered essential.
In past government shutdowns, international travelers entering the U.S. with valid passports and visas were not impacted.