The U.S. government shutdown that began Wednesday is expected to affect federal services in various ways, potentially causing travel delays for visitors to the United States.
Air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff are considered “essential” and will continue working. However, like other essential employees, they will not be paid until the shutdown is resolved. During the last shutdown, many essential workers called in sick, resulting in significant delays at airports.
The Department of Transportation has stated that air traffic controller hiring and training will continue, and public transport within the U.S. should operate normally. According to the Rail Passengers Association, Amtrak and other transit systems are expected to remain unaffected in the short term. Most city buses, subways, light rail, trams, and ferries, which are not federally funded, will also operate as usual.
National parks and monuments will be partially open under an emergency plan from the Department of the Interior. In Washington D.C. and New York, the Smithsonian Institution, which operates multiple museums and the National Zoo, announced it has sufficient funds to remain open for one week.
During the last government shutdown at the end of 2018, the Smithsonian museums lost approximately one million visitors. Travelers are advised to plan their trips carefully and anticipate potential disruptions.
