- By Ajeet Kumar
- Thu, 02 Oct 2025 10:08 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Be prepared for flight delays in US: If a US 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 on Wednesday after US 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 US airports and air travel running are working without pay until the government reopens.
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 modernising travel infrastructure," Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the US 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
Travellers can still fly despite the lapse in funding, but during a prolonged shutdown, travellers should plan ahead for potentially longer lines at airport security and flight interruptions. Control towers and airport security areas 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. But if the shutdown persists, it could put a significant strain on the national aviation system.
What happened during last shutdown
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.
ALSO READ: EXPLAINED: What Is US Govt Shutdown And What's Next For Americans?
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. The latest shutdown is unfolding at a time when the Federal Aviation Administration is already facing a shortage of about 3,000 air traffic controllers.
International travel into the US
Ports of entry into the country are expected to stay open for international travellers, 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 US at official border crossings, like airports and land crossings from Canada and Mexico.
Passports and visas
The US 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. 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 US.
(With inputs from agencies)