Many fliers heading to the airports amidst the federal government shutdown are perhaps wondering, “What about my flight?” The good news: Air traffic controllers and TSA agents who screen passengers and inspect baggage at airports are deemed “essential” federal workers and will continue to work, but without pay until a budget agreement is reached.
However, as the shutdown continues, the TSA warns that slowdowns are possible. The administration said in a statement that an extended shutdown would eventually lead to longer “wait times” at airports. The Daily Beast reported that security lines at major airports, including JFK in New York, were not excessive so far.
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The U.S. Travel Association sent a letter to congressional leaders this week explaining what it terms the “dangers of a government shutdown.” The group cited a survey from Ipsos that found 60% of Americans said they would cancel their flight or avoid flying in the event of a government shutdown. Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman warned, “A shutdown is a wholly preventable blow to America’s travel economy — costing $1 billion every week — and affecting millions of travelers and businesses while placing unnecessary strain on an already overextended federal travel workforce.”
Past shutdown delays
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There are more than 60,000 TSA workers and at least 13,000 air traffic controllers in the United States.
Back in late 2018 and early 2019, as a federal government shutdown dragged on for more than a month, TSA agents began calling in sick and not showing up for work. That led the TSA to reduce lanes, resulting in longer lines at security checkpoints.
Former TSA officer Caleb Harmon-Marshall told CBS News that as workers begin to miss paychecks, financial pressures mount.
“TSA officers are expected to continue to report to work,” he said. “But in the past, if a shutdown exceeds two weeks, officers start to get frantic, and they stop going to work.“
Warning from airlines to lawmakers
The trade association group Airlines for America, which represents United, Delta, American and Southwest, is sounding the alarm about possible future delays. It is urging Congress to find a solution and reopen the government, writing, “Aviation is the safest mode of transportation, but to maintain that the system may need to slow down, reducing efficiency.”
As for train travel, the government’s rail line, Amtrak, is continuing to run. The Rail Passengers Association posted that it is “very unlikely that the shutdown will last long enough to affect Amtrak’s day-to-day operations.” The RPA did note that a longer shutdown could delay federal funding for important rail-related projects.
