Congress faces a Sept. 30 deadline that could trigger another federal funding lapse and disrupt U.S. airports during peak fall travel. Prior shutdowns this fiscal year caused sharp rises in TSA call-outs, localized staffing crises at major airports, more than 300 TSA resignations and FAA-mandated schedule cuts. Effects tend to compound after a few weeks. Travelers should allow extra time, secure or renew TSA PreCheck, avoid tight hub connections and monitor airlines closely.
Another Government Shutdown Could Disrupt U.S. Airports — How Travelers Should Prepare
Wide-angle view of a bustling airport in Hamburg featuring Eurowings aircraft on the taxiway.
Congress faces a September 30 funding deadline that could trigger another federal shutdown — the third potential lapse in the current fiscal year. Earlier funding gaps this year already produced major disruptions at U.S. airports, and a new shutdown beginning Oct. 1 would arrive right in the middle of peak fall travel.
What Happened Before
Air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are designated essential employees, which requires them to keep working during a shutdown — but they are not paid until funding is restored. In the October–mid-November lapse last year, unscheduled call-outs at TSA checkpoints more than doubled nationwide, rising from roughly 2% to about 6% on average. Several large airports saw far worse spikes: Houston Hobby approached 50% call-outs, John F. Kennedy International Airport hit 76% during a blizzard, and Newark reached about 53%.
More than 300 TSA officers resigned during that period, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directed airlines to reduce domestic schedules because controller shortages made the normal traffic levels unsafe to manage. In February, when only the Department of Homeland Security experienced a lapse, Global Entry was suspended for enrolled travelers (pushing them into standard lines), and TSA PreCheck was briefly at risk before the agency reversed course.
Why Timing Matters
A shutdown beginning October 1 would coincide with high holiday and fall-leisure travel, when airports already run near capacity. That timing leaves far less slack to absorb rising absenteeism or slower checkpoint processing. Industry observers and the U.S. Travel Association warn that effects compound over time: the first days may feel normal, but absenteeism and delays typically spike in the third and fourth weeks once workers miss a full paycheck.
How Travelers Can Prepare
- Build extra buffer time into airport arrival plans, especially for travel after the first week of any shutdown.
- Apply for or renew TSA PreCheck well before a potential shutdown: historically, PreCheck has often remained protected when Global Entry was suspended.
- Avoid tight connections through major hubs during the first month of a shutdown, since staffing-related delays concentrate at the busiest airports.
- Monitor flights directly with your airline rather than relying on printed schedules; the FAA or airlines can announce schedule reductions on short notice.
- Consider flexible tickets or travel insurance that covers schedule changes or cancellations during a prolonged funding lapse.
Sources: Reporting and analysis from the Federation of American Scientists and prior coverage by FlightQueue.
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