Here's how a government shutdown could impact travel ahead of the holidays

Topline

A government shutdown will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday unless lawmakers manage to agree on a stopgap bill — which seems increasingly unlikely — and it could affect everything from travel to Social Security during the holiday season.

The Capitol in Washington is framed by early morning clouds on March 19, 2024.

Important facts

Air travel: Air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration employees are considered essential, meaning they are expected to continue working during a shutdown — although they won’t be paid until the funding situation is resolved, which has led to longer lines and slowdowns at airport shutdowns in the past.

A TSA spokesperson told USA Today on Friday that a closure would not have a major impact on operations, noting that 59,000 of the organization’s 62,000 employees are essential and would continue to work without pay – but they warned: “A prolonged closure.” could lead to longer waiting times at airports.”

Bureau of Prisons: Like TSA workers, prison service employees are considered essential and would be required to go to work even though they would not be paid until the lockdown ends, something Brandy Moore-White, the head of the largest federal employees’ union, told ABC News “absolutely devastating.” would be ” in September 2023, when a possible but averted shutdown occurred.

US military: Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Thursday that troops in the U.S. and abroad must continue to report for duty because much of the military is also essential personnel but they are not receiving paychecks and other personnel who is deemed non-essential for immediate operations would be furloughed, the Associated Press reported.

National parks: A National Parks Service contingency plan released in March when a closure was at risk said: “The majority of national park sites will be completely closed to public access during a closure” and areas that are “physically accessible to the public are at significant risk.” reduced visitor services.”

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What is a government shutdown?

A government shutdown occurs when Congress has not passed the required 12 budget bills for the next fiscal year. During a shutdown, federal agencies must “cease all non-essential discretionary functions until new funding legislation is adopted and enacted,” although essential services and mandatory spending programs will continue, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

Why might there be a government shutdown now?

Congress has not passed any of its 12 budget bills for the next fiscal year. Earlier this week, Republicans made progress on a possible stopgap bill that would have prevented a government shutdown, but President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday he opposed the bill and called for a tougher law with fewer concessions to Democrats. On Thursday, the House of Representatives rejected a bill endorsed by Trump that would have kept the government funded through March 14 and suspended the debt ceiling for two years, which Trump said was a priority for him.

What did Trump say about a possible shutdown?

Trump said on Truth Social Friday that he’s okay with a government shutdown — as long as it happens under President Joe Biden, not him. “If there is a government shutdown, let it start now, under the Biden administration, not after January 20th, under ‘TRUMP.'” This is a Biden problem that needs to be solved, but if the Republicans “If we can help solve it, they will!” he wrote on Friday morning. When Trump announced his opposition to the bill on Wednesday to help prevent a shutdown, he urged Republicans to “get smart and tough” and encouraged them to call Democrats’ “bluff” about allowing a shutdown To call it “bluff”.

Surprising fact

The betting markets are affected by the possible closure. Nearly $2 million has been bet at Polymarket on whether there will be a shutdown – with bettors putting the odds at 49% just before midday on Friday.

What you should pay attention to

Whether lawmakers will be able to come to an agreement and pass a stopgap bill that could keep the government open through the holidays.

Big number

34. That’s how many days the longest government shutdown lasted – which lasted from December 21, 2018 to January 25, 2019. Since 1977, there have been 20 government shutdowns that lasted at least a full day, according to a House history.

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Here’s how a government shutdown could impact travel ahead of the holidays