Yes. According to the Department of Transportation's emergency plan, more than 25,000 Federal Aviation Administration employees are deemed “necessary to protect life and property.” That includes nearly 13,000 air traffic control employees who would guide takeoffs and landings — and help prevent planes from flying too close together in between.
But the controllers will not be paid as long as the shutdown continues. During a previous shutdown that began in late 2018, this situation added financial pressures to an already stressful job, the controllers and their representatives said, as they went without pay for more than a month. The former president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association later testified that the stress was intense, fatigue was leading to controller errors, and the system was on the verge of collapse. Eventually, the FAA was forced to limit flights to and from New York's LaGuardia Airport because there weren't enough controllers to handle them, causing problems at Philadelphia, Newark and Atlanta and provided momentum to efforts to resolve the shutdown.
Maybe. Many travelers could spend some time without waiting. But things could get bad, especially if the situation drags on.
If the government shuts down, Transportation Security Administration officers will still be assigned to airport checkpoints across the country, but with the same caveat: They won't receive paychecks. In a post in X on Thursday, TSA Director David Pekoske said that about 59,000 of TSA's 62,000 workers are considered essential.
If you're an early riser and arrive at the airport a few hours early anyway, this might come in handy.
“While our staff is prepared to handle large numbers of travelers and ensure safe travel, please be aware that an extended closure could result in longer wait times at airports,” Pekoske wrote.
In a live conversation with The Washington Post on Thursday, TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said front-line employees, such as agents, dog handlers, explosives experts and inspectors , would all be at work.
“If you are traveling during a government shutdown, please thank the officers you meet along the way,” Farbstein said. “They work (without pay) so that you can travel safely.”
During the five-week shutdown that ended in January 2019, a significant number of TSA agents began to stop working due to economic hardship. At some airports, community groups have set up food banks, and airport officials have distributed free food to agents. At one point, as the shutdown dragged on, 10 percent of TSA agents nationwide didn't come to work because they couldn't — or wouldn't — continue showing up without being paid. This has led to long lines for security at some airports.
Will national parks close?
Yes, for the most part, except for parks that have obtained alternative funding from state, local or tribal governments, or other third parties. According to the National Park Service's emergency plan, activities that will continue during a closure are “necessary to protect life and property,” including law enforcement, border patrol and fire suppression.
Parks with entry gates or ticket booths, such as Zion National Park and Shenandoah National Park, will be closed. Attractions with open entry points, such as the Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway, will be accessible, but with few or no services.
Welcome centers and restrooms will be closed and educational programs will be suspended. Waste will not be collected. Information on road or trail conditions will not be updated.
Can I still have my passport processed?
Yes. According to the State Department's contingency plan, consular services such as issuing passports and visas will be offered domestically and abroad as long as the department has the budget to cover these operations.
However, the State Department may suspend passport services administered in buildings operated by temporarily closed agencies. The document states that in these cases, the Office of the Undersecretary for Management will manage consular services on a case-by-case basis.
A positive point: you will be able to send your application by mail, because the U.S. Postal Service does not rely on government funding. And as of this year, the State Department has a permanent online renewal program.
Andrea Sachs, Michael Laris, Sofia Andrade and Luz Lazo contributed to this report.