Nearly 500 travel organizations and companies, led by the U.S. Travel Association, are warning that a prolonged federal government shutdown could trigger widespread turmoil during the Thanksgiving rush, one of the nation’s busiest travel weeks. In a letter to congressional leaders, the coalition urged passage of a “clean continuing resolution” to reopen the government before the holiday to prevent longer lines, schedule snarls, and an erosion of traveler confidence.
The industry’s alarm follows a recent sign of strain: the Federal Aviation Administration issued a temporary ground stop for some flights bound for Newark Liberty International Airport due to staffing issues, underscoring the operational fragility in a period of extraordinary demand.
Staffing Pressures At TSA And In Control Towers
According to the coalition, Transportation Security Administration officers and air traffic controllers have been required to work without pay during the shutdown. That dynamic risks deepening staffing shortages at airport security checkpoints and in control towers, raising the likelihood of longer wait times, delays, and cancellations as the holiday approaches. The letter stresses that when staffing gaps widen, flight disruptions become more frequent, imperiling millions of family travel plans.
The pressure is amplified by the sheer scale of the holiday surge. More than 20 million passengers flew during Thanksgiving week last year, and airports are bracing for a comparable wave this season. With systems already under strain, even modest staffing shortfalls can cascade into network-wide disruptions, from early-morning screening backups to missed connections at major hubs.
Billions At Stake For Local Economies
Beyond the traveler experience, the industry groups argue that the shutdown is inflicting mounting economic damage. The letter estimates over $4 billion in losses to the U.S. travel economy so far, with the figure rising day by day. Those losses ripple through local businesses, including hotels, restaurants, attractions, and transportation providers that rely on steady visitor spending during the holiday period. Thanksgiving travel typically generates billions of dollars in activity, supporting jobs and municipal tax bases nationwide, all which are now at risk.
Tourism leaders warn that uncertainty itself can depress demand: when headlines focus on possible delays and canceled flights, some travelers postpone or abandon plans, further straining small businesses. The coalition contends that a fully functioning federal workforce at airports is essential to keep people moving and to maintain confidence at a time when reliability is paramount.
Call For Swift Congressional Action
The coalition’s message, addressed to Senate and House leaders from both parties, presses for immediate legislation to restore full federal operations before Thanksgiving. Without swift action, the groups say, the peak travel window could be defined by long lines, schedule disruptions, and a blow to the nation’s reputation for operational resilience. The industry’s task is narrowed to stabilize aviation staffing and keep checkpoints, towers, and support functions operating normally during the surge.
Airlines, airports, and federal security agencies are preparing for record crowds, but the combination of elevated demand and constrained staffing makes the system more vulnerable to compounding delays. Travel leaders emphasize that safety remains the top priority, yet warn that passengers could pay a “heavy and unnecessary price” in the form of protracted wait times and missed trips if the shutdown persists into the holiday.
Thanksgiving remains both a cultural milestone and a vital driver of local commerce. Industry groups argue that keeping the federal aviation workforce fully supported and paid, through the holiday rush, is critical to avoid avoidable bottlenecks and to protect household gatherings as well as community revenues tied to visitor spending.