A lone traveler walks through a nearly deserted TSA security checkpoint at Orlando International Airport before Hurricane Milton arrives in Orlando, Florida, on October 9, 2024.
Paul Hennessy | Anadolu | Getty Images
one government shutdown It’s the time when the holiday travel season is approaching.
Lawmakers deadlocked voted Thursday to kill a short-term bill backed by President-elect Donald Trump to continue funding the U.S. government. If an agreement is not reached, the shutdown could begin as soon as 12:01 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Hundreds of thousands of government employees will be furloughed if Congress fails to pass a spending bill.
What does this mean for air travel?
Even with the possibility of grounding, commercial aircraft are still flying as planned.
Airlines are expecting their busiest year-end holiday season ever. The Transportation Security Administration expects its officials to screen more than 40 million people during the holiday period ending Jan. 2. United Airlines Airlines alone expect to fly 9.9 million passengers between December 19 and January 6, a 12% increase over last year.
The government considers more than 14,000 air traffic controllers and nearly 60,000 TSA workers critical, meaning they will continue to work, although they will not be paid during the shutdown.
Prepare for longer lines?
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers “will continue to work without pay if closed,” said David Pekoske, the agency’s administrator. Social Media PlatformX Thursday.
“While our crews are prepared to handle the influx of travelers and ensure the safety of our transportation system, an extended closure could mean longer wait times at airports,” the TSA said in a statement Friday.
What happened last time?
The last government shutdown was from the end of 2018 to the beginning of 2019 and lasted for more than a month.
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