Trump Shutdown: Airports Affected?

In December 2024, Donald Trump, then President-elect, called for a government shutdown, urging Republicans in Congress to reject a stopgap funding bill that would keep federal agencies running through March 2025. This raised concerns about the potential impact on airports and travel during the holiday season. While airports would remain operational during a government shutdown, travelers could experience significant delays due to reduced staffing. Essential workers, such as air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents, would continue working without pay, which could lead to longer wait times at security checkpoints. The last government shutdown in 2018-2019 resulted in longer lines and disruptions at airports, and a similar situation was anticipated if the 2024 shutdown were to occur.

Delayed pay for essential workers

The Trump Shutdown, which lasted from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019, affected around 800,000 federal employees, more than half of whom were deemed essential workers and were required to work without pay. This included Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents and air traffic controllers, who provide essential services to ensure the safety of air travel.

The shutdown was the result of an impasse between former President Donald Trump and Congress over Trump's demand for $5.7 billion in federal funds for a U.S.-Mexico border wall. This dispute led to a partial government shutdown, with non-essential government services halting operations. While essential workers like FBI agents, federal corrections officers, and TSA staff continued working, they did so without receiving their regular paychecks.

The impact of the delayed pay on essential workers was significant. Many workers, including those in law enforcement and transportation security, experienced financial hardships as they were unsure when they would receive their next paychecks. Some turned to food banks and sought other employment to make ends meet. The uncertainty caused stress and anxiety for workers and their families, with some even taking out loans to cover their expenses.

The situation was particularly challenging for those with mortgages or rent payments, as well as those with limited savings. For example, Colleen Regan, a federal law enforcement agency employee in Detroit, found herself living in a friend's basement as she waited for the shutdown to end. John Deal, a NASA contractor in Virginia, relied on his daughter's teacher salary to help cover groceries.

The delayed pay also had a broader impact on the U.S. economy. Each week of the shutdown cost the economy an estimated $6 billion due to reduced spending by affected households and delays in government spending. Essential workers, including those in transportation security and air traffic control, played a crucial role in maintaining the flow of air travel during the busy holiday season, despite the financial challenges they faced.

The shutdown ended on January 25, 2019, when Trump agreed to endorse a stopgap bill to reopen the government for three weeks, providing temporary relief to essential workers awaiting their paychecks.

Longer wait times at airports

A government shutdown could result in longer wait times at airports, with knock-on effects for the travel industry and holidaymakers. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers are deemed essential employees, meaning they are required to stay at work even if the government shuts down. However, they would not be paid during this period.

During the 2018-2019 government shutdown, many TSA workers did not report for duty, leading to longer lines at security checkpoints. The national absence rate among airport screeners rose from 3% to 10%, with callouts from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport increasing by up to 300%, according to research firm Tourism Economics.

In the lead-up to the busy holiday season, the TSA projected a 6.2% increase in screening volumes. A similar shutdown could cause bottlenecks at airport security checkpoints, with knock-on effects for the travel industry and holidaymakers.

TSA Administrator David Pekoske warned that an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports. The impact of a shutdown on the travel industry could be significant, with the U.S. Travel Association estimating a cost of $1 billion per week.

A shutdown could also affect other airport services, such as customs and border protection, and lead to more flight delays and cancellations.

Bottlenecks at airport checkpoints

Airports will remain open during a government shutdown, but there may be significant travel delays—especially during the holiday season. This is primarily due to bottlenecks at airport security checkpoints.

During a government shutdown, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees at airport checkpoints are deemed essential and would be asked to work without pay. Without funding flowing, many TSA employees may choose not to work, leading to a reduction in staffing levels at security checkpoints. This could result in longer wait times for travellers.

During the 2018-2019 government shutdown, many travellers endured longer lines at airports as some security staffers did not report to work. TSA officer call-outs increased by up to 300% at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, with the national absence rate among airport screeners rising from 3% to 10%.

To prepare for potential bottlenecks, the TSA stated that its personnel had prepared to handle high volumes of travellers and ensure safe travel. However, they also warned that an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports.

Reduced staffing, flight delays and cancellations

A potential government shutdown could have a significant impact on airport operations, particularly when it comes to staffing, flight delays, and cancellations.

Firstly, it's important to understand that air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents are considered essential employees, which means they would typically continue to work even during a shutdown. However, they would do so without receiving pay until the shutdown ends. This lack of remuneration could lead to reduced staffing as many workers may choose to simply stay home, especially if the shutdown is prolonged.

During the 2018-2019 government shutdown, for instance, there was a notable increase in TSA officer call-outs, with a 300% rise in absences at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, according to Tourism Economics. This resulted in longer lines and wait times at airports as there were fewer staff to handle the high volume of travellers.

A similar situation could occur again, causing flight delays and potential cancellations. With reduced staffing, airports may struggle to manage the expected high volume of travellers, especially during the busy holiday season. This could have a ripple effect on the travel industry, impacting costs for travellers and affecting holiday spending.

Additionally, other airport services, such as customs and border protection, may also be affected by reduced staffing. Essential workers in these areas would also go unpaid during the shutdown, potentially leading to further delays and disruptions for travellers.

While commercial airplanes are still scheduled to fly in the event of a shutdown, travellers should be prepared for the possibility of delays or cancellations due to reduced staffing levels at airports.

Impact on the travel industry

The Trump shutdown would have had a significant impact on the travel industry, particularly air travel, during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Airports would have remained open, but travellers could have experienced significant delays due to reduced staffing. This is because Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers and air traffic controllers are deemed essential employees and would have been required to work without pay.

During the 2018-2019 Trump shutdown, the longest funding lapse in the United States, many travellers endured longer lines at airports as some TSA agents and air traffic controllers chose not to report to work. TSA call-outs increased by up to 300% at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, with the national absence rate among airport screeners rising from 3% to 10%.

A similar situation could have occurred during the potential 2024 Trump shutdown, with hundreds of thousands of government employees, including TSA agents and air traffic controllers, facing the prospect of working without pay. This could have led to bottlenecks at airport checkpoints and longer wait times for travellers.

The travel industry could have struggled to cope with the strain, potentially increasing costs for travellers and impacting holiday spending. According to the U.S. Travel Association, a shutdown could have cost the U.S. travel economy $1 billion per week, affecting millions of travellers, businesses, and federal workers nationwide.

An Ipsos survey found that 60% of Americans would have considered altering their travel plans in the event of a shutdown, with many choosing to cancel or avoid flights altogether. This would have further impacted the travel industry, causing a decrease in revenue and potential disruptions to travel schedules.

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