Roberta Aguirre
A government shutdown can cause major disruptions to air travel, with the potential to close airports. While airport workers like air traffic controllers and TSA agents are considered essential employees and will continue to work without pay during a shutdown, extended shutdowns can lead to staff shortages as employees call in sick due to financial strain. This can result in longer wait times at airports, temporary terminal closures, and flight delays or cancellations. Additionally, a shutdown can impact the hiring and training of new air traffic controllers, exacerbating existing shortages. The impact of a government shutdown on airports is typically more severe the longer it lasts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can planes continue flying? | Yes, but there may be delays. |
| Can airport security checkpoints remain open? | Yes, but there may be longer wait times. |
| Can passport offices remain open? | No, they may close. |
| Can Global Entry applications continue to be processed? | No, new applications will not be processed. |
| Can air traffic controllers continue to work? | Yes, but they may be strained due to long hours and lack of pay. |
| Can the FAA hire or train new air traffic controllers? | No, the FAA's ATC training facility in Oklahoma would be forced to close. |
| Can TSA workers continue to work? | Yes, but they will not be paid until the end of the shutdown. |
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Staff shortages
The issue of staff shortages during a government shutdown extends beyond TSA agents. Air traffic controllers, who are already facing a shortage, will also be strained as they continue to work without pay. A shutdown disrupts the hiring and training of new air traffic controllers, exacerbating the existing shortage. This can lead to flight delays and further stress on the already overworked controllers.
Additionally, a government shutdown can impact the operations of Customs and Border Protection employees. While TSA agents are deemed essential, most Customs and Border Protection employees are not. This can lead to disruptions in services such as Global Entry applications and in-person interviews, causing further delays and inconveniences for travelers.
The impact of staff shortages during a government shutdown is often felt more severely as the shutdown prolongs. As federal employees miss their paychecks, they may start calling out sick, leading to reduced staffing levels at airports. This can result in longer wait times, delayed flights, and potential temporary closures of airport terminals.
To mitigate the impact of staff shortages during a government shutdown, some measures can be taken. For example, ensuring that essential workers are compensated even during a shutdown can help reduce the number of employees calling out sick. Additionally, providing adequate staffing levels in anticipation of a shutdown can help alleviate the strain on airport operations. However, the most effective solution is to avoid prolonged government shutdowns, as the longer the shutdown continues, the more severe the impact on airport staff shortages and, consequently, travel disruptions.
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Longer wait times
A government shutdown will not close airports, but it will cause longer wait times. This is because, while air traffic controllers and TSA officers are considered "essential" employees and will be required to work without pay, many will call in sick rather than work for free. During the 2018-2019 shutdown, sick days among TSA agents rose sharply, leading to long lines at airports, with wait times of over an hour in some places. This also caused safety concerns and forced the Miami and Houston airports to close terminals temporarily.
In addition, a shutdown means the FAA cannot hire or train new air traffic controllers, which could further exacerbate existing staff shortages. The 2018-2019 shutdown caused some controllers to retire early, and the FAA has still not recovered from this loss of fully certified controllers.
The longer a shutdown goes on, the worse the impact on travel. During the last shutdown, it only took ten air traffic controllers calling in sick on the same day to temporarily halt travel at LaGuardia Airport in New York City.
The upcoming shutdown is set to begin during the holiday travel rush, with a record-breaking 40 million passengers expected to fly on US carriers. This will put pressure on TSA workers, who will be managing high volumes of travelers without pay. As the shutdown continues, worker shortages will likely cause major travel disruptions.
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Delayed flights
While a government shutdown does not necessarily mean that airports will close, it can cause significant delays for travellers. During a shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cannot hire or train new air traffic controllers, which can exacerbate existing staff shortages. Air traffic controllers are considered essential employees and will continue to work without pay during a shutdown, but the pressure of working long hours without pay can lead to increased sick days, which will further strain staffing levels.
During the 2018-2019 government shutdown, sick days among TSA agents rose almost immediately, with unscheduled absences reaching 10%, up from just over 3% the previous year. This led to long lines at airports, with wait times to get through TSA checkpoints lasting over an hour in some places, and forced the Miami and Houston airports to temporarily close terminals.
The longer a shutdown continues, the more problems travellers may encounter. The 2018-2019 shutdown caused some air traffic controllers to retire early, contributing to a 30-year low in the number of fully certified controllers. This shortage of controllers has resulted in flight delays and would be further stressed by a shutdown, especially as it falls during the holiday travel rush, one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
The FAA expects to screen a record 40 million passengers over the holidays, and an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports. TSA workers are deemed essential and will continue to work without pay, but as the shutdown continues, worker shortages caused by employees calling in sick will lead to major disruptions.
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Unpaid work
While a government shutdown may not immediately close airports, it can cause significant disruptions and delays for travelers, especially if it extends over a long period. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers and air traffic controllers are deemed "essential" and are required to work without pay during a shutdown. As the shutdown continues, staff shortages become more prevalent as these federal employees are not paid until the end of the shutdown. This results in longer wait times at airports and potential flight delays or cancellations.
During the 2018-2019 government shutdown, there was a notable increase in unscheduled absences by TSA agents and air traffic controllers, with the national rate for unscheduled absences for TSA agents reaching 10%. This led to long lines at airports, with wait times exceeding an hour in some places, and even forced the temporary closure of terminals in Miami and Houston airports. The additional absences also raised concerns about the safety of air travel.
The impact of a shutdown on air travel can be exacerbated during peak travel seasons, such as the holiday season, when millions of Americans take to the skies. The longer the shutdown continues, the more problems travelers may encounter. This includes longer TSA wait times at airports and disruptions in ATC hiring and training. Airlines for America, an airline trade organization, anticipates a record-breaking winter holiday season with more than 54 million passengers expected to fly on U.S. carriers.
In addition to the immediate effects on airport operations, a government shutdown can also contribute to a massive backlog of applications for services like Global Entry, which allows international travelers to expedite customs and immigration processes when returning to the U.S. The last federal government shutdown resulted in a significant backlog of Global Entry applications, with some applicants still waiting for months or even over a year for conditional approval.
While commercial airlines are not expected to be directly affected by a shutdown and should continue to operate, travelers may still experience indirect consequences due to staff shortages and potential delays or cancellations caused by the absence of essential workers like TSA agents and air traffic controllers. Therefore, while airports may not entirely close during a government shutdown, travelers can expect increased wait times, potential delays or cancellations, and a strain on airport resources.
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Travel disruptions
While a government shutdown may not immediately impact travellers, it can cause significant disruptions to air travel and safety, especially if it prolongs. During a shutdown, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers and air traffic controllers are deemed "essential" and will continue to work without pay. However, as the shutdown continues, staff shortages arise as these federal employees start to feel the financial strain, resulting in increased sick days and absences. This was evident during the 2018-2019 partial government shutdown, where TSA agent absences led to long lines at airports and temporary terminal closures in Miami and Houston.
Similarly, air traffic controllers, who already work long hours, will be strained further. A shutdown disrupts the hiring and training of new controllers, exacerbating the existing shortage. This can lead to flight delays and potentially unsafe conditions, as seen in 2018 when just ten controllers calling in sick halted travel at LaGuardia Airport in New York City.
In addition to airport security and air traffic control disruptions, a government shutdown can impact other travel-related services. For instance, Global Entry applications may be delayed or halted, and passport offices located inside federal buildings could close, causing further inconvenience to travellers.
The bottom line is that while planes will continue to fly during a government shutdown, travellers should anticipate potential disruptions, especially as the shutdown persists. The longer it continues, the more problems travellers may encounter, including longer wait times at airports and possible flight delays or cancellations due to staff shortages.
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Frequently asked questions
No, airports will remain open during a government shutdown.
Yes, a government shutdown can disrupt travel plans, especially if it goes on for a long time. During a shutdown, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers are deemed "essential", so airport security will continue to work. However, they will not be paid until the end of the shutdown, which can lead to staff shortages as employees call in sick. This will result in longer wait times at airports.
During a shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cannot hire or train air traffic controllers. It would also take some trainee controllers working at airport towers off the job. This could lead to flight delays and further stress those forced to work during a shutdown.
Those travelling internationally shouldn't face issues as domestic consular operations, including passport and visa services, will remain functional as they are fee-funded operations.
