How a government shutdown could affect your travel plans

If legislators are unable to pass a budget before 12:01 a.m. Saturday, the government would shut down just days before Christmas, potentially affecting one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Over a two-week period that began Thursday, the Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million people at airports. Friday is expected to be one of the most crowded days, along with Dec. 27 and Dec. 30.

Will I still be able to fly?

Yes. According to the contingency plan for the Department of Transportation, more than 25,000 Federal Aviation Administration employees are deemed “necessary to protect life and property.” That includes nearly 13,000 air traffic control employees who would be guiding takeoffs and landings - and helping prevent planes from flying too close to each other in between.

But the controllers won’t be paid as long as the shutdown continues. During a previous shutdown that started at the end of 2018, that situation added financial pressures to an already stressful job, controllers and their representatives have said, as they went without paychecks for more than a month. The former president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association later testified that the stress was intense, fatigue was leading to controller mistakes, and the system was on the verge of unraveling. Eventually, the FAA was forced to limit flights in and out of New York’s LaGuardia Airport because there weren’t enough controllers to manage them, causing problems in Philadelphia, Newark and Atlanta and adding momentum to efforts to resolve the shutdown.

Will TSA take longer?

Maybe. Many travelers could skate by without delays for some time. But things could get gummed up, particularly if the situation drags on.

If the government shuts down, Transportation Security Administration agents will still be assigned to work the nation’s airport checkpoints, although with the same caveat: They won’t be getting paychecks. In a post to X on Thursday, David Pekoske, the head of TSA, said about 59,000 of TSA’s 62,000 workers are considered essential.

If you’re an early bird who gets to the airport a couple hours early anyway, that could come in handy.

“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,” Pekoske wrote.

In a live chat with The Washington Post on Thursday, TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said front-line employees such as officers, canine handlers, explosives experts and inspectors will all be at work.

“If you are traveling during a government shutdown, please thank the officers who you meet along the way,” Farbstein said. “They’re working [without pay] so you can travel safely.”

During the five-week shutdown that ended in January 2019, significant numbers of TSA agents started calling out of work because of economic hardship. At some airports, community groups set up food banks, and airport officials were giving agents free food. At one point, as the shutdown dragged on, 10 percent of TSA agents nationwide did not come to work because they couldn’t - or didn’t want to - keep showing up without getting paid. That led to long security lines at some airports.

Will national parks shut down?

Yes, for the most part, except for parks that have secured alternative funding from state, local or tribal governments, or other third parties. According to the contingency plan for the National Park Service, activities that will continue during a shutdown are “necessary to protect life and property,” including law enforcement, Border Patrol and fire suppression.

Parks with admission gates or fee booths, such as Zion National Park and Shenandoah National Park, will be locked up. Attractions with open entry points, such as the Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway, will be accessible, but with minimal to no services.

Visitor centers and restrooms will be shuttered, and educational programs will be suspended. Trash will not be collected. Information on road or trail conditions will not be updated.

Can I still get my passport processed?

Yes. According to the State Department’s contingency plan, consular services such as issuing passports and visas will be offered domestically and abroad as long as the department has the budget to cover these operations.

However, the State Department could suspend passport services administered in buildings run by temporarily shuttered agencies. The document noted that in these instances, the Office of the Undersecretary for Management will handle consular services on a case-by-case basis.

One bright spot: You will be able to mail your application, because the U.S. Postal Service does not rely on government funding. And, as of this year, the State Department has a permanent program for online renewals.

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Andrea Sachs, Michael Laris, Sofia Andrade and Luz Lazo contributed to this report