What a Government Shutdown Could Mean for Holiday Travelers

With just hours to go before a potential government shutdown in the midst of what is expected to be the busiest travel season on record, the head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) warned travelers longer wait times at airports could be ahead.

TSA Administrator David Pekoske said while the majority of officers would continue to work without pay since they are considered “essential,” a prolonged shutdown could result in extended wait times at airport security checkpoints. 

“At TSA, part of DHS, about 59,000 of the agency’s 62,000+ employees are considered essential and would continue working without pay in the event of a shutdown,” Pekoske said in a post on X, adding, “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.” 

The TSA expects to screen 40 million passengers over the holidays through Jan. 2, Pekoske said, in what has been predicted to be a record-setting holiday travel season. And thankfully, spokesperson for travel site Going.com tells Travel + Leisure that travelers this holiday season “likely won’t feel the impacts.”

“However, the ghost of shutdowns past tells us the longer it lasts, the higher the likelihood we see disruption,” she said. “It’s a near guarantee we would see unpaid TSA workers become strained having to deal with security crowds, while potential flight delays could occur due to Air Traffic Controllers being stretched thin.”

Nastro noted that the TSA workers will receive backpay. She also mentioned that a shutdown may result in passport processing times delays.

“A prolonged government shutdown threatens holiday travel disruptions that Americans won’t tolerate,” Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association said in a statement shared with T+L. “It’s hard to see how anyone in Congress wins if they force TSA workers, air traffic controllers, and other essential employees to work without pay during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.”

Congress now has until midnight Friday to pass a spending deal and avert a government shutdown days after a bipartisan agreement was abandoned following criticism from President-elect Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, The Associated Press reported. During a shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal employees may be either sent home or required to work without pay.

On Friday, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social that if there was going to be a shutdown, “let it begin now, under the Biden Administration, not after January 20th, under “TRUMP.”” 

Under a government shutdown, one of the first things travelers will notice is the closure of some national parks. However, it’s not clear exactly which national parks would remain open in the event of one.