As many Americans get ready for holiday travel, the U.S. is facing a potential government shutdown that could put a damper on their plans.
If Congress doesn’t approve a plan to fund the government by midnight Friday, federal agencies will shut down Saturday, Dec. 21. That means most federal government employees would be furloughed until the government is funded again.
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Federal workers who provide essential services like law enforcement, air traffic control, and customs and border protection would still be required to report to work. While the essential Travel Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will continue operating, travel could still be significantly impacted by a government shutdown.
Airport and cruise port operations are supposed to continue as usual, but that doesn’t mean they won’t experience disruptions, and many Americans may reconsider their holiday travel plans because of that. A survey by Ipsos found that 60% of Americans indicated that they would likely cancel or avoid trips by air if a government shutdown happens.
According to the U.S. Travel Association, a government shutdown could cost the U.S. travel economy $1 billion per week, affecting millions of American travelers, businesses and federal workers across the country. Previous holiday shutdowns cost the U.S. economy $11 billion.
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Air and cruise travelers could face longer wait times
When the government shuts down, essential workers like most TSA employees and CBP officers are required to work without pay until funds become available again. Once the government is funded again, they receive back pay for the time worked during the shutdown.
The last time the government shut down, which happened during the 2018-2019 holiday period, some transportation security officers and air traffic controllers chose not to report to work while their pay was put on hold, resulting in longer lines and delays at airports. Cruise passengers who are flying to their cruise’s port of departure during a government shutdown should keep this in mind and plan for extra time at the airport.
Similarly, cruise port operations could see delays during a government shutdown. Ports may be understaffed, which could lead to longer wait times, especially when it’s time to disembark your cruise ship.Â
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When your cruise ship returns to port at the end of your cruise, it may take longer for the ship to be inspected and cleared by customs officials before passengers can disembark. It could also take longer to get through the customs area in the cruise terminal after getting off the ship.
If you need to get or renew a passport during a government shutdown, you can still do so. U.S. passport agencies will continue to process passports and visas, though the State Department could suspend passport services offered in buildings run by non-essential agencies that are not operating during the shutdown. The State Department’s new system for online passport renewal is sure to help keep passport services accessible though.
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