The U.S. Department of Homeland Security shut down early Saturday, affecting the agency responsible for screening passengers and luggage at airports across the country. Travelers with tickets booked may nervously recall last year’s 43-day government shutdown, which resulted in historic flight cancellations and lengthy delays.
Transportation Security Administration officials are expected to work without pay, while lawmakers have still not reached an agreement on annual funding for the Department of Homeland Security. TSA officials also completed a record-breaking outage that ended on Nov. 12, but aviation experts say the outcome may be different this time.
Still, trade groups for the U.S. travel industry and major airlines warned that the longer the Department of Homeland Security funding lapses, the longer security lines at U.S. commercial airports will grow.
Here’s information about the latest closures and how to plan ahead.
How is this shutdown different?
Funding for the Department of Homeland Security expires at midnight. But funding for other parts of the federal government ends on September 30. That means air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration will continue to receive their salaries, reducing the risk of widespread flight cancellations.
According to the department’s emergency plan, approximately 95% of TSA workers are considered essential and required to continue working. House and Senate Democrats say the Department of Homeland Security will not receive funding until new restrictions on federal immigration operations are imposed.
During past shutdowns, disruptions to air travel tended to increase over time rather than overnight. For example, the Transportation Security Administration temporarily closed two checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport about a month after the closure last year. On the same day, the government took the extraordinary step of ordering all commercial airlines to reduce domestic flight schedules.
John Rose, chief risk officer at global travel management company Altour, said the pressure on airports may show up more quickly this time because Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers will also remember the last shutdown.
“It’s still new to them and probably new to their wallets,” Ross said.
What impact will it have on travelers?
It is difficult to predict if, when or where security clearance obstacles will arise. For example, even a few unexpected TSA absences can quickly lead to extended wait times at a small airport if there is only one security checkpoint.
Therefore, travelers should plan to arrive early and allow extra time to pass through security.
“I tell people to do this even in good times,” Ross said.
Experts say that while air traffic controllers are not affected by the DHS shutdown, flight delays are possible.
In some cases, airlines may decide to delay departures to wait for passengers to clear security, said Rich Davis, senior security consultant at risk mitigation firm International SOS. A shortage of TSA officers could also slow down behind-the-scenes inspections of checked bags.
What travelers can do to prepare
Ross advises that most airports display security queue wait times on their websites, but don’t wait until the day of your flight to check.
“You probably looked it up online and it said two and a half hours,” he said. “It’s still two and a half hours before the flight takes off, and you haven’t even left for the airport yet.”
Passengers should also pay close attention when packing their luggage, as prohibited items may prolong the security screening process. For carry-on luggage, avoid bringing items such as full-size shampoo or other liquids, large-volume gels or aerosols, and knives in your carry-on luggage.
The TSA provides a complete list of what is and is not allowed in carry-on and checked luggage on its website.
At the airport, Ross said, remember to “practice patience and empathy.”
“Not only are they not getting paid,” he said of TSA workers, “they may have fewer staff and deal with angry travelers.”
Will the shutdown drag on?
The White House has been negotiating with Democratic lawmakers, but the two sides failed to reach an agreement this weekend as senators and congressmen prepared to leave Washington for a 10-day break.
However, lawmakers in the House and Senate would return if a deal is reached to end the government shutdown.
Democrats said they would not help approve more funding for the Department of Homeland Security before imposing new restrictions on federal immigration operations following the shooting deaths of Alex Pretty and Renee Goode in Minneapolis last month.
The U.S. Travel Bureau, American Airlines and the American Hotel & Lodging Association warned in a joint statement that the closures could disrupt air travel as the busy spring break travel season approaches.
“Travelers and the U.S. economy cannot afford for TSA’s essential personnel to work without pay, which increases the risk of unplanned absences and callouts that could ultimately lead to extended wait times and missed or delayed flights,” the statement said.
