How Would A Government Shutdown Affect Travel?

Contributing Editor Carl Unger believes that every trip is worth taking. He loves an extended trip to Europe as much as he enjoys exploring the towns and landscape near home. Basically, you'll find him wherever there is good food, fresh air, and plenty of stories to bring home.

Carl has been writing for SmarterTravel since 2005. His travel writing has also appeared on USA Today and the About.com Boston travel guide.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "It's not revolutionary, but a small Moleskine notebook is my one travel must-have. It's great for noting things you want to remember and it takes up hardly any space in your bag."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Japan. I'd love to take a month off and visit the cities, temples, and countryside. I'm fascinated by the country's juxtaposition of ancient traditions and modern ambitions."

Travel Motto: “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” –Terry Pratchett

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Window."

See recent posts by Carl Unger

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With the government heading perilously close to a budget impasse, and whispers of a government shutdown growing louder, travelers may be wondering what, impact if any, such a shutdown would have on travel. With a little more than a week to go before a potential shutdown on March 5, it’s worth taking a look at the ways in which travel could be affected.

Airport Security: It’s hard to imagine the TSA simply ceasing its activities. Regardless of your opinion of the TSA itself, airport security is one of those vital federal programs that will continue operating in the event of a shutdown. The only question is whether it will run at 100 percent, or scale back somewhat due to the budgetary situation. The TSA declined to comment on specifics for this story. My sense is that things will be more or less normal. In short, don’t think this will get you out of a patdown.
National Parks and other Federal Sites: During the 1995-96 shutdown, many national parks, monuments, and other federally managed sites closed their doors to visitors. So if you’re planning a visit to the Grand Canyon or Washington Monument early next month, be prepared to find it closed if the government does indeed shutdown for any length of time.
Passports: Passport services ceased during the last shutdown, and since passport processing doesn’t fall into the “essential government function” category, the same would likely be true in the event of another shutdown. Travelers who will need a passport soon may want to apply for an expedited passport in the coming days. Otherwise, the backlog following a shutdown could create long wait times for new applications. The State Department, like the TSA, declined to comment on specifics.

I happen to be traveling in the near future, so you can bet I’ll be keeping an eye on developments surrounding the potential shutdown, and even more so on the possible consequences relating to travel.

Readers, were you on the road during the 1995-96 shutdown? Any tips based on your own experiences?

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