You’ve been counting down the days for months. The bags are packed, the out-of-office email is set, and then you see the headline: Congress is deadlocked. A government shutdown and travel plans don't exactly sound like a match made in heaven. Honestly, it’s enough to make anyone want to cancel their flight and just hide under the covers.
But here is the thing.
The planes don't just stop flying. It's not like the entire country's infrastructure just hits a giant "off" switch at midnight. Instead, things get messy, slow, and remarkably frustrating for the people who keep the system running.
If you’re worried about whether you can still get to Disney World or fly to a business meeting in London, the short answer is yes. You can. But the long answer involves a lot of nuance about who is considered "essential" and how long a human being can work without a paycheck before they decide they’ve had enough.
The Reality of Air Travel During a Shutdown
Air traffic controllers are the backbone of the sky. They are essential. TSA agents? Also essential. Customs and Border Protection officers? Essential.
This means they have to show up to work even when the government isn't paying them. During the record-breaking 35-day shutdown that spanned late 2018 and early 2019, these workers went weeks without seeing a dime in their bank accounts. Imagine driving to a high-stress job at an airport, paying for parking, and buying lunch, all while knowing your mortgage payment is due and your salary is currently at $0.
It’s a lot.
Predictably, this leads to what people call "blue flu." Workers start calling in sick because they can't afford childcare, or they need to find temporary gig work to pay bills, or quite frankly, they’re just exhausted and demoralized. When TSA staffing drops, security lines grow. During past shutdowns, some airports had to close entire security checkpoints. At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, wait times reportedly surged past 90 minutes in some instances. That is a long time to stand in line with a carry-on and a restless toddler.
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Then there are the air traffic controllers. They are already facing a massive national shortage. Adding the stress of a shutdown to an already overworked workforce is a recipe for delays. In January 2019, the FAA had to briefly halt flights into LaGuardia Airport because of a shortage of staff at a key facility in Virginia. When one major hub like New York or Atlanta slows down, the entire national airspace feels the ripple effect.
National Parks: A Mixed Bag of Frustration
If your travel plans involve the great outdoors, a government shutdown and travel logistics get even more complicated. In the old days, the Department of the Interior would just lock the gates. You couldn't get in. Period.
More recently, the strategy shifted. During the 2018-2019 lapse, many parks stayed "open" but unstaffed. This sounds great until you realize what "unstaffed" actually means in a place like Yosemite or the Grand Canyon. No one is there to empty the trash cans. No one is there to clean the toilets. Within days, visitors reported "toilets overflowing" and trash piling up, which attracts bears and other wildlife.
It was kind of a disaster.
The National Park Service (NPS) usually warns that emergency services will be extremely limited. If you twist your ankle on a remote trail, there might not be a ranger available to come get you. Some states, like Utah or Arizona, have previously stepped up to provide state funding to keep iconic parks like Zion or the Grand Canyon somewhat functional, but that’s not a guarantee. Every shutdown is a little different depending on the political climate and who is running the Department of the Interior.
If you're headed to a Smithsonian museum in Washington D.C., you should probably have a backup plan. These usually stay open for a few days using "prior-year funds," but once that cash is gone, the doors are locked. The National Zoo’s famous Panda Cam? That goes dark too. It’s a bummer for tourists, and a huge hit to the local D.C. economy.
Passports and Visas: Don't Panic Yet
Here is a bit of good news. The State Department’s consular services—which includes passport processing—are largely funded by the fees you pay rather than direct taxpayer appropriations. This means that, generally speaking, passport offices stay open.
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If you have a trip to Italy in three weeks and you just realized your passport is expired, you can still apply. However, if your passport office is located in a federal building that gets shuttered, that specific office might close. It’s always a bit of a gamble.
Visas are a similar story. Most visa processing continues because it’s fee-funded. But if a shutdown drags on for months, "interagency coordination" might slow down. If your visa requires a background check from an agency that is shut down, you're going to be waiting a while.
Why the Economy Takes a Hit
Travel isn't just about vacations; it's a massive economic engine. According to the U.S. Travel Association, a government shutdown can cost the travel economy as much as $140 million per day. That’s a staggering amount of lost revenue from canceled hotel bookings, empty restaurant tables, and missed museum tours.
Small businesses near national parks are hit the hardest. A coffee shop outside the gates of Yellowstone depends entirely on that seasonal traffic. When the park is "closed" or "unpleasant to visit," those small business owners lose their livelihood. It’s not just a political game in D.C.; it’s a real-world problem for people in gateway communities.
The Human Factor You Can't Ignore
We talk a lot about "the government" as this abstract entity. But the government is just people. It's the person checking your ID at 5:00 AM. It's the person watching the radar screen to make sure two planes don't occupy the same space.
When you’re traveling during a shutdown, a little bit of empathy goes a long way. These workers are likely stressed. They might be wondering how they’re going to pay for their kid’s braces or if they should start driving for a rideshare app after their shift.
Honestly, being a "difficult" passenger when the TSA agent is working for free is a bad look.
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Actionable Steps for Travelers
If a shutdown is looming or currently happening, don't just sit there and hope for the best. You need to be proactive.
Check your travel insurance policy immediately. Most standard policies do not cover "government shutdowns" as a reason for cancellation. However, if your policy includes "Cancel for Any Reason" (CFAR) coverage, you might be able to get some of your money back. Also, check if your policy covers "travel delays." If a staffing shortage causes you to miss a connection, you might be able to claim hotel or meal expenses.
Download the apps. Download your airline's app and the MyTSA app. The MyTSA app provides crowdsourced wait times. If you see wait times spiking, leave for the airport an hour earlier than you normally would. For airlines, the app is often the fastest way to rebook yourself if a flight is canceled. Don't wait in the 200-person line at the customer service desk.
Monitor the National Park Service website. If you’re headed to a park, check nps.gov for specific alerts. Each park has its own "shutdown plan." Some might keep the roads open but close the visitor centers. Others might shut the gates entirely.
Avoid federal buildings for last-minute needs. If you need to visit a government office for travel-related paperwork, try to do it before the funding deadline. If you're already in the middle of a shutdown, look for offices that aren't housed in major federal complexes, as they are less likely to be impacted by building-wide closures.
Pack your patience. This sounds cliché, but it’s the most practical advice there is. Things will be slower. Staffing will be thinner. The person behind the counter is probably having a worse day than you are. Bring extra snacks, a portable charger, and a book.
A government shutdown and travel can coexist, but the experience won't be seamless. It requires more planning, more time, and a much higher tolerance for frustration. The system is resilient, but it’s not indestructible. If the shutdown lasts longer than a week or two, the cracks start to show. Stay informed, stay flexible, and maybe pack a few extra granola bars—you might be in that security line for a while.
The best thing you can do right now is verify your flight status and keep an eye on the news. Politicians usually wait until the very last second to strike a deal. Sometimes they don't. Either way, the world keeps spinning, and your plane will likely still take off—even if the person guiding it in is wondering when their next paycheck is coming.