Travel groups and airlines are warning passengers to expect problems after part of the United States government shut down. Lawmakers failed to agree on funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which controls several important travel and security agencies. Airline industry groups, including Airlines for America, said flight delays and long airport lines could happen if the shutdown continues.
They clarified that if forced to work without pay, Transportation Security Administration workers might not report for duty. This could slow down security checks at airports across the country. The shutdown started at midnight on Saturday after Congress did not pass a new funding bill. Democrats said they would only support funding if new limits were placed on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE is not expected to suffer much from the shutdown because it still has money from a large spending law passed last year. Democrats are calling for changes after two protesters were killed during immigration raids in Minnesota earlier this year.
They want immigration officers to show clearer identification, follow stricter rules for warrants, and stop covering their faces during operations. Earlier this month, lawmakers approved short-term funding that kept DHS open for just two weeks. Talks between both parties failed to produce a longer agreement. On Friday, President Donald Trump said he was unsure whether a deal would be reached but said law enforcement must be protected.
Affected DHS agencies include the TSA and the US Coast Guard. Coast Guard leaders warned that tens of thousands of workers could miss paychecks, forcing the agency to pause nonemergency missions. Travel disruption may be less severe than last year’s shutdown because the Federal Aviation Administration has funding. However, if TSA staff call in sick, airport delays could grow. Congress is in recess until late February.
