How potential government shutdown could impact your travel plans as midnight deadline looms
Lucy Devine
Featured Image Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty
A potential shutdown could see the US government at a standstill in a matter of hours if a temporary bill isn't passed in time.
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump warned that the US government could face a shutdown in a matter of days.
The warning came after Mike Johnson, speaker of the United States House of Representatives, issued a short term spending bill in Congress in December to keep up government funding.
Johnson's bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), covered funding up until Friday (March 14).
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However, if another similar bill isn't passed before it runs out, the government could be forced into a shutdown, meaning a majority of federal workers would be forced to stop working and go without pay.
With the government in shutdown, significant travel issues could follow, depending on how long it lasts.
If federal employees are furloughed, thousands would be out of work, with the exception of those deemed as 'essential' - meaning they would have to continue to work regardless.
Jobs such as airport security, customs staff and air traffic controllers fall into the 'essential' category, which means there may not be any immediate issues.
However, if a shutdown does happen, there could still be issues for the travel sector. For example, during the partial shutdown in 2018 and 2019, issues including long security lines and flight delays were pretty widespread, especially as the shutdown went on for 34 days.
Travel company Skift explains that staff calling in sick could also be an issue, considering some essential workers wouldn't receive pay until after the shutdown ends.
Meanwhile, national parks across the US can also face issues, with many struggling with a garbage issue during the last shutdown, after a majority of waste disposal staff were furloughed.
When asked about the potential government shutdown, Trump candidly told reporters: "It could happen."
The POTUS went on to claim the funding issue 'shouldn't have happened', and assured the shutdown 'probably won't' go ahead. However, it remains up to the voters in Congress.
"I think the CR is going to get passed. We'll see," he said.
Earlier this week, it seemed the US could avert the shutdown after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he would support a Republican funding bill to fund the government until September.
If Democrats don't help the Republicans pass the bill, they will likely face much of the blame for the shutdown.
"There are no winners in a government shutdown," said Schumer.
"It's not really a decision, it's a Hobson's choice: Either proceed with the bill before us or risk Donald Trump throwing America into the chaos of a shutdown.
"This in my view is no choice at all."
The deadline for the bill is 23:59 EDT on Friday March 14.