Unless Congress acts today to keep the government open past midnight, the federal government will go into a partial shutdown starting first thing Saturday morning.
The House of Representatives has made several attempts to extend the federal budget past midnight, but the efforts have either failed to gain enough votes or been scuttled by incoming president Donald Trump, with demands for what to include.
If a partial shutdown happens, nonessential services would stop while essential services would continue. National parks would shutter, but the FBI would still operate. Social Security beneficiaries would still receive checks, but the IRS would stop auditing returns.
What about air travel? Here’s what we know about the Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees air traffic control, and the Transportation Security Administration, which manages airport security. For more, here’s what happens to your benefits if the government shuts down.
How would a government shutdown affect holiday flights?
The Transportation Department, which oversees the FAA, said its 12,957 air traffic controllers are considered to be exempt from the shutdown and will work without pay to continue to direct air traffic control services. Operation of navigational aids will also continue.
How would a government shutdown affect the TSA?
TSA employees, which are part of the Department of Homeland Security, are expected to work during a shutdown but not be paid during it.
On Thursday, acting Secretary of Homeland Security David P. Pekoske posted on X that about “59,000 of the [TSA’s] 62,000+ employees are considered exempt and would continue working without pay in the event of a shutdown. We expect to screen 40M passengers over the holidays and through January 2. While our personnel are prepared to handle high volumes of travelers and ensure safe travel, please be aware that an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports.”
The US government has shut down or had funding gaps 20 times for at least one day since 1977. And despite being labeled as essential, some TSA agents did not report to work during past government shutdowns, closing security checkpoints. Absent air traffic controllers also caused flight delays at some airports.
To encourage TSA employees to work through the shutdown, Pekoske said he approved awards of $500 for each uniformed screening officer “during an extraordinary period.”
For more, here are the cheapest times to book flights based on destination and time of year.
Read the full article here
