Here's how a government shutdown could impact travel this holiday season
The looming specter of a government shutdown could spell delays for holiday travelers this year.
The looming specter of a government shutdown could spell delays for holiday travelers this year.
The biggest impact would likely be felt at U.S. airports.
The Transportation Security Administration said Thursday that it expected to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2, and that roughly 59,000 of its more than 62,000 employees were expected to continue working, in the absence of pay, if a congressional deal isn’t reached and government funding lapses at 12:01 a.m. ET on Saturday.
“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,” TSA Administrator David P. Pekoske said in a statement Thursday.
A shutdown could also translate to $1 billion per week in losses to the American travel economy, according to the U.S. Travel Association.
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