What the Government Shutdown Means for Your Next Flight

The government shutdown is rolling into its second week, and so far, most travelers haven’t noticed a difference at the airport.

TSA officers and air traffic controllers are still on the job. They’re considered essential workers, which means they have to keep working — even without pay — until the government reopens. Once it does, they’ll get their back pay.

Over the weekend, reporters saw normal lines at security checkpoints in several airports. FlightAware data backed that up: just 32 flights were canceled nationwide on Saturday and 70 on Sunday, a typical number for this time of year.

Cancellations Are The New Normal

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that things could change if the shutdown drags on.

Speaking Sunday at Newark Liberty International Airport, Duffy said some FAA facilities have already seen an uptick in sick calls. For now, he said, the absences are isolated. But if they grow, the agency may need to slow down air traffic to keep skies safe.

“One facility one day, another facility another day — some areas have seen a 50% reduction in staffing,” Duffy said. “If controllers can’t safely manage the airspace, we’ll reduce traffic. That can mean delays or cancellations.”

Duffy also said a longer shutdown could hit smaller communities that rely on the Essential Air Service program, and stall training for new air traffic controllers — a process the FAA has been trying to speed up amid ongoing staffing shortages.

Expect TSA Delays

The TSA, part of the Department of Homeland Security, is bracing for challenges too.

“While TSA is prepared to continue screening about 2.5 million passengers a day, an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times,” the agency said in a social media post. “We kindly ask for our passengers’ patience.”

In past shutdowns, unpaid TSA and FAA employees started calling out in larger numbers as missed paychecks piled up. Those absences led to long lines, delays, and, eventually, political pressure to end the stalemate.

So far, this shutdown hasn’t reached that point. But if it does, travelers — not politicians — could be the ones feeling it first.

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