Travellers heading to the United States are facing ongoing chaos this week, as the federal government shutdown continues to “threaten the reliability and efficiency” of the aviation industry.
Now in its seventh day, the shutdown began on 1 October after lawmakers in Washington failed to pass a bill funding government services into October and beyond.
As a result, many services have been temporarily suspended, and 40 per cent (around 750,000 people) of the federal workforce have been put on unpaid leave.
While the political stalemate may be centred on Capitol Hill, its effects have rippled across the nation, including in the travel sector.
Will my flight be affected by the US shutdown?
While air traffic controllers are categorised as essential workers and expected to continue working without pay during the shutdown, many major airports have been experiencing staffing issues.
On Monday, 6 October, more than 6,000 US flights were delayed due to staff shortages – affecting major airports around New York and Los Angeles.
Hollywood Burbank airport in Los Angeles was forced to completely close on Monday afternoon into the evening after struggling to maintain adequate staffing levels.
Despite the setbacks, data from Cirium shows that 92 per cent of the 23,600 flights that departed US airports as of Tuesday afternoon departed on time.
Yesterday (Tuesday, 7 October) FlightAware found that around 3,200 US flights were delayed by the afternoon, with some passengers waiting an extra hour before taking off.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), which represents more than 20,000 controllers and aviation safety professionals, is one of many organisations calling for the shutdown to end.
“Air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals will be forced to work without pay, often under gruelling schedules of six days a week, 10 hours a day,” it says.
“During the last shutdown, many had to take second jobs to feed their families and pay their bills – leading to stress and fatigue.”
NATCA argues the ongoing shutdown will “slow down modernisation” and threatens the “reliability and efficiency of our entire aviation system.”
Are cruise ships running?
Cruise holidays from US ports are largely unaffected. Essential federal personnel, including Coast Guard employees and border agents, will continue to report to work, although many federal workers who support cruise ship operations are currently unpaid.
The biggest disruptions for travellers on cruises are likely to occur at national parks.
Can I still visit national parks?
National parks remain partly open, but with significant limitations.
Outdoor spaces such as roads, trails and memorials will remain accessible, while staffed facilities – including visitor centres and monuments – are closed. At Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell, for example, tourists were turned away on the first day of the shutdown, the Associated Press reported.
Popular destinations such as Yosemite, Yellowstone and the Statue of Liberty remain open to visitors, though services are scaled back. The Utah Office of Tourism said that the state’s five national parks – Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion – will remain open as well.
Travellers are advised to check official information for updates, as the Department of the Interior has warned that areas may close entirely if safety or conservation is at risk.
The scale of the disruption is significant for park workers, too. About 64 per cent of National Park Service employees, or roughly 9,300 staff, have been furloughed. Those losses compound previous cuts that left America’s popular parks strained.
The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has warned that the lack of staffing is already causing serious issues, putting travellers in danger.
“At Great Falls, visitors parked illegally and climbed around barricades to get in,” Theresa Pierno, President and CEO of NPCA, says.
“And at Gateway, crowds packed the beach, parking wherever they could with no staff to manage access, creating real safety risks.”
The organisation adds that many national parks are starting to “feel the strain” of the government shutdown, describing it as one of the “greater threats” it has faced.
Which museums are closed?
Visitors to Washington DC and other US cities will find many federally funded museums shut. The National Archives and the Washington Monument are among the dozen already closed in the nation’s capital, according to the official tourism bureau.
One Reddit user who had planned to travel to the US to visit the Library of Congress said she was “heartbroken” to find it would be closed indefinitely.
However, there is good news for travellers hoping to catch a performance. Theatres and concerts are continuing as planned. Even the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is going ahead with its scheduled performances, albeit with reduced staff.
What else is affected?
Those awaiting visa approval might be left waiting a while longer.
While US embassies and consulates continue to provide essential services, the American Immigration Council has warned that reduced staffing will likely lead to visa delays and backlogs.
For now, these are the only disruptions, although they amount to major shake-ups for many. While travellers can still board flights and cruises, they should expect reduced access to museums and parks – some of the biggest reasons people visit the US.
Travellers are advised to check official websites for closure updates before making plans.