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Home Videos & Articles What Does the Government Shutdown Mean for Travelers?

What Does the Government Shutdown Mean for Travelers?

 

The government shutdown is certainly on everyone’s minds for many reasons.  As travel professionals, we are wondering how it will affect travelers.  The following is a list of what we found:

The U.S. State Department has some funds outside the annual congressional appropriation and will continue to process passport applications and foreign visa applications for the time being.  However, delays may occur if the shutdown continues.

Federal air traffic controllers and TSA airport screeners will remain on the job.  However, some airports have warned of delays at security checkpoints, as some employees may be furloughed.

National Parks will close, and people currently camping in those parks will have a couple of days to pack up and leave.

Most Washington, D.C. museums will be closed, including the Smithsonian museums, Great Smoky Mountains, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island in New York, Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

Amtrak will still be in service.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection will remain in operation; borders will be open.

While you might not want to start planning a last-minute trip to tour National Parks or D.C., you should be okay to carry on with your travel plans.  Do remember to add some extra time to allow for delays.

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