- The 10-day government shutdown has left air traffic controllers and TSA agents working unpaid, causing rising absenteeism, flight delays (12,000+) and cancellations (200+), worsening ahead of holiday travel peaks.
- Unpaid federal workers, struggling financially, are calling in sick or seeking temporary jobs, eroding airport operations. Experts warn delays and cancellations will escalate if the shutdown continues.
- The U.S. is the only major travel market seeing a projected 6.3 percent drop in foreign tourism spending, as global visitors fear disruptions in flights and entry procedures.
- Travelers are canceling or postponing trips for Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, fearing airport chaos and potential stranding. Agents report rising cancellations.
- The shutdown exposes vulnerabilities in an already fragile travel sector still recovering from COVID-era disruptions. Without a resolution, airlines, tourism and the economy face deepening damage.
The ongoing federal government shutdown, now in its tenth day, is wreaking havoc on the U.S. travel industry, with airports facing mounting delays, cancellations and staffing shortages just as the busy holiday season approaches. Key aviation workers—including air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents—are working without pay, leading to rising absenteeism and growing concerns about travel disruptions ahead of Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend.
Industry leaders warn that the political stalemate could not only deter domestic travelers but also accelerate an already worrying decline in international tourism to the United States. With no resolution in sight, airlines, travel agencies and passengers are bracing for what could be one of the most chaotic holiday travel periods in recent history.
The shutdown has hit air traffic control and TSA operations harder and faster than during the 2019 funding halt, with nearly 12,000 flight delays reported from Monday to early Wednesday, Oct. 6 to 8, Brighteon.AI‘s Enoch notes. Approximately 200 flights were canceled outright, with staffing shortages cited as the primary cause.
Sheldon Jacobson, a University of Illinois professor who helped design the TSA PreCheck system, warned that the situation will worsen if the shutdown drags on.
“Travelers will see an erosion of service,” he said. “As air traffic controllers and TSA officers grow frustrated and exhausted, more will call in sick.”
The financial strain on federal employees is compounding the problem. Many workers, already stretched thin, are now facing unpaid bills—forcing some to seek temporary work or stay home altogether.
International visitors wary amid uncertainty
While domestic travel is projected to rise slightly (1.9 percent), foreign tourism spending is expected to drop by 6.3 percent this year—making the U.S. the only major travel market facing such a decline. The shutdown has amplified concerns among international travelers, who are questioning whether flights will operate normally and whether entry into the country will be smooth.
“There is some anxiety from ‘What does that mean? Does that mean that we cannot fly? Are people not able to enter the country?'” said Peter van Berkel, president of inbound tour operator Travalco. Some travelers are now hesitant to book U.S. trips at all, fearing further disruptions.
With Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend—the first major travel period since the shutdown began—just days away, industry leaders fear a ripple effect that could extend into Thanksgiving and Christmas. Travel agents report clients already inquiring about canceling holiday trips.
Wayne Milano, a New Jersey business traveler, canceled his trip to India and refuses to fly until the shutdown ends. “I’m not even going to chance it for the first week or two—let’s just see how things play out,” he said.
Arizona-based agent Sonia Bhagwan confirmed that two clients are reconsidering Thanksgiving and Christmas vacations to Hawaii. “People don’t want to risk being stranded,” she said.
The shutdown’s impact on travel underscores the fragility of an industry still recovering from pandemic-era disruptions. With no resolution in Congress, travelers face mounting uncertainty—and the longer the stalemate lasts, the deeper the damage to airlines, airports and the broader economy.
As Geoff Freeman of the U.S. Travel Association warned, “If we introduce concern into the system… we’re leading people to stay home.” For now, millions of Americans—and international visitors—are left wondering when their travel plans will once again take flight.
Watch the video below where White House disputes claims that the shutdown punishes blue states.
This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.
Sources include:
YourNews.com
Reuters.com
Brighteon.ai
Brighteon.com
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