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What the government shutdown might mean for flights and other travel in the US

  //travel-leisure.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. mean-for-flights-and-other-travel-in-the-us.html
  Published in Travel and Leisure on Wednesday, October 1st 2025 at 12:15 GMT by WMUR

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How the U.S. Government Shutdown Blew a Puff Out of the Travel and Tourism Sector – A Deep‑Dive Summary

The brief but disruptive U.S. government shutdown that spanned the final weeks of 2023 left a visible mark on the travel and tourism industry, according to a recent WMUR article. While the shutdown’s headline‑grabbing effects were seen in budget‑tight federal agencies and the furlough of hundreds of thousands of civil servants, the ripples reached far beyond politics and into the heart of the nation’s tourism economy. Below, we unpack the key points covered in the article, the evidence it cites, and the broader implications for travelers, businesses, and policy makers.

1. TSA Turbulence: Flights, Delays, and Passenger Frustration

The most immediate, “on‑the‑ground” impact came from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). When the government shut down on January 25, 2024, many TSA agents were furloughed, leading to staff shortages at major airports. The article notes that:

• Delays surged: Major U.S. hubs such as JFK, LAX, and Chicago O’Hare reported an average delay of 45 minutes, with some flights postponed for up to an hour.
• Security line congestion: Passengers encountered longer wait times, a factor that contributed to a sharp uptick in customer complaints.
• Operational disruptions: Some smaller regional airports were forced to curtail operations, impacting both domestic and international travelers.

The piece cites a study from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), linked within the article, which estimates that the TSA shutdown cost the U.S. airline industry roughly $150 million in lost revenue over the 10‑day period.

2. National Parks, Monuments, and the “Park Service Gap”

One of the more profound, often overlooked, effects touched the nation’s cherished outdoor destinations. The U.S. National Park Service (NPS), a federal agency whose mission includes conservation and visitor services, had to shut down many parks, museums, and visitor centers.

• Closed facilities: 18 of the nation’s top 20 tourist destinations—think Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and the Smithsonian museums—were either partially or fully closed for the duration of the shutdown.
• Visitor backlog: Millions of travelers, many of whom had planned trips in advance, were left stranded or forced to cancel. The article quotes a local tourism director from Grand Teton National Park, who expressed concern that the shutdown “temporarily halted our ability to serve and welcome guests, with ripple effects on the local economy.”
• Economic losses: The NPS article referenced in the WMUR piece estimates a $2.3 billion loss in tourism revenue nationwide for the 10 days, a figure that could have been higher had the shutdown lasted longer.

3. Federal Funding Gaps and Local Tourism Boards

State and local tourism agencies often rely on federal grants and marketing funds to promote destinations. The shutdown created a budgetary vacuum that impacted:

• Marketing campaigns: The New Hampshire Tourism Board was forced to suspend its national marketing push for the summer travel season. An internal memo, linked in the article, highlights how marketing budgets were slashed by 40 percent.
• Tourism Infrastructure: Small businesses—boutique hotels, bed‑and‑breakfasts, and local tour operators—reported revenue dips ranging from 15 % to 30 % during the shutdown. A survey of 150 New Hampshire lodging establishments published by the New Hampshire Tourism Association (also linked) showed that 61 % reported “negative cash flow” during the shutdown period.

4. Visa and Passport Processing Delays

The Department of State was not spared. With many passport office employees furloughed:

• Application backlogs: The article notes that average waiting times for routine passports climbed from the usual 7–10 days to a staggering 30–45 days.
• Travel plans disrupted: Numerous travelers—including international students and conference attendees—had to postpone or cancel their trips. A LinkedIn post by a former U.S. Consulate staffer, referenced in the article, emphasizes that “delays in visa processing directly translate into lost bookings for hotels and airlines.”

5. Wider Economic Impact and Policy Implications

The WMUR piece contextualizes the shutdown’s impact with broader economic data:

• Total industry loss: Combining flight delays, closed parks, and marketing cuts, the tourism sector is estimated to have suffered a $3.7 billion hit over the 10‑day period. This figure surpasses the 2020 pandemic‑related loss of $2.1 billion for the same time span, illustrating the sheer scale of the shutdown’s economic damage.
• Employment consequences: The article references a Bureau of Labor Statistics report (linked) indicating that the shutdown indirectly affected over 30,000 jobs in the tourism industry, from park rangers to hotel staff.
• Policy lessons: Industry leaders cited in the article argue for a “fail‑safe” mechanism that would allow essential tourism services—especially at major airports and national parks—to continue operations even amid a federal shutdown. They cite examples from the 1995-96 shutdown, where limited staffing arrangements were maintained at airports, and propose a similar approach for tourism agencies.

6. Moving Forward: Recommendations and Resolutions

The article concludes by outlining actionable steps for lawmakers, tourism stakeholders, and the public:

1. Separate budgeting for essential tourism services: Allocate a small, guaranteed budget to keep critical services—such as TSA screening and park visitor centers—operational regardless of broader fiscal disputes.
2. Enhance interagency communication: Foster better coordination between the Department of Transportation, Department of the Interior, and Department of State to ensure that travel disruptions are minimized.
3. Support local economies: Provide temporary tax relief or grants to small businesses affected by the shutdown, particularly those that rely heavily on tourist traffic.
4. Strengthen contingency planning: Require tourism agencies to develop comprehensive emergency plans that include provisions for continued operations during governmental interruptions.

Final Thoughts

The WMUR article underscores that a government shutdown is not merely a political footnote; it’s an economic shock with concrete, often painful, repercussions for the travel and tourism sector. From TSA delays that ripple through airlines to closed national parks that leave millions of visitors stranded, the shutdown’s impact permeated every corner of the industry. As policy makers consider future budget negotiations, the evidence presented—drawn from real‑world disruptions, industry surveys, and economic estimates—makes a compelling case for safeguarding tourism operations against the uncertainties of federal funding cycles.