The TSA previously warned that an extended closure could result in longer wait times for about 2.5 million passengers a day.
Lawmakers have until the end of Friday to keep the government fully open.
Democrats are taking a stand against President Trump’s immigration policies following the shooting death of Alex Preti by a federal immigration agent in Minneapolis.
- Critical employees at the FAA and TSA continue to work during the government shutdown, but without pay.
- A prolonged closure could result in longer security lines and reduced flight schedules.
- During the closure period in 2025, the Department of Transport has ordered airlines to reduce flights by up to 10% to ease the burden on air traffic control.
Just months after Congress avoided a previous shutdown, lawmakers hit another wall late at night on Jan. 31, failing to pass a full funding bill by the Jan. 30 deadline.
On Friday, the Senate approved a continuing resolution that would continue funding the Department of Homeland Security for two more weeks while keeping the rest of the government funded for the rest of the year, but the deal is currently pending in the House, which is in recess and won’t be voted on until Monday at the earliest. The shutdown could extend beyond the weekend if the House rejects the plan or delays action, but given the bipartisan momentum ahead of the deadline, most appropriators still expect a relatively short shutdown.
During the last government shutdown, which lasted 43 days and was the longest in U.S. history, airlines were ordered to cut flight schedules by up to 10% at 40 major airports.
The unprecedented measures were taken after air traffic controllers had been working without pay for more than a month, putting a strain on the air traffic system. Many air traffic controllers and other essential employees missed multiple paychecks and had to find ways to bridge the financial gap.
Some travelers may have already noticed a large number of plane disruptions occurring on Saturday, January 31st, but that is unrelated to the potential grounding. Airlines are preemptively canceling flights ahead of Winter Storm Gianna, which is expected to bring heavy snow and damaging winds to the East Coast over the weekend.
Here’s why your air travel plans are unlikely to be immediately affected during the government shutdown.
Is air travel affected by the government shutdown?
No, at least not right away.
FAA and TSA employees who perform critical duties related to flight safety will continue to work during the shutdown. Still, the longer the shutdown lasts, the more likely you are to have to miss work.
During the 2025 shutdown, the Department of Transportation ordered airlines to reduce their flight schedules by up to 10%, helping to ease the workload on air traffic control towers that were overburdened and understaffed, causing days of headaches for travelers.
It is not yet clear when, how, or if flights will be affected by the suspension. USA TODAY reached out to the Department of Transportation to ask about its plans during the closure.
Will TSA operate during a shutdown?
Yes, TSA employees who perform screening and other duties at airport security checkpoints are considered essential and will continue to work during airport closures. However, if the closure lasts for an extended period of time, lines and wait times may be longer.
“TSA stands ready to continue screening approximately 2.5 million passengers per day, but an extended closure could result in longer wait times at airports,” the agency said in a post on X last year. “During this time, we ask all passengers to please wait for a while.”
Contributor: Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY
