What happens to airports during a government shutdown

During a federal government shutdown, airports stay open and planes keep flying. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) continues operating because it is funded through a separate mechanism than most federal agencies. However, some airport services slow down or stop entirely, and delays become more common even though flights themselves are not cancelled outright.

The key difference is this: the FAA's air traffic control system, which guides planes in and out of the sky, keeps running. But the people and systems that support the airport experience—security screening, customs processing, baggage handling coordination, and maintenance inspections—are staffed by federal employees who work without pay during a shutdown. Many of these workers call in sick or stop showing up, which creates bottlenecks.

A shutdown typically lasts days to weeks. The longest recent shutdown lasted 35 days, from December 2018 to January 2019. During that time, some airports reported 10 to 15 percent increases in flight delays, and security lines grew longer because TSA officers were absent.

Key Takeaways

  • Airports remain open during shutdowns, but federal employees like TSA officers and air traffic controllers work without pay, leading many to call in sick.
  • Security screening lines typically grow longer because fewer TSA staff are present, which can cause you to miss your flight.
  • Customs and immigration processing at international airports slows significantly, sometimes adding hours to arrival times.
  • Flight delays increase but cancellations are rare; the FAA keeps the air traffic control system running to prevent safety risks.
  • Checking your airline's website and arriving extra early are your best defenses against shutdown-related delays.

TSA screening delays and longer security lines

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is the federal agency that screens passengers and bags at every commercial airport. During a shutdown, TSA officers continue working but receive no paychecks. In past shutdowns, 5 to 10 percent of TSA staff have called in sick on any given day, compared to a normal absence rate of 3 to 4 percent.

This means fewer people staffing the metal detectors and X-ray machines. A typical security checkpoint might normally have eight officers on duty; during a shutdown, it might have six or seven. The result is longer lines, especially at busy airports and during peak travel times (early morning, late afternoon, and weekends). Some passengers have reported waiting 45 minutes to over an hour to clear security during past shutdowns, versus a typical 15 to 20 minutes.

If you are traveling during a shutdown, arrive at the airport at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight—longer than the standard recommendation. Check your airline's website the morning of your flight for real-time wait times at security, which many airports now publish.

Customs and immigration processing at international airports

If you are arriving from outside the United States, your experience is affected more severely than domestic travelers. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers work during shutdowns without pay, and like TSA, they experience higher absence rates. During the 2018–2019 shutdown, some international airports reported customs processing delays of two to three hours beyond normal wait times.

The bottleneck happens because CBP cannot reduce staffing below certain safety and security thresholds—they must screen every arriving passenger. With fewer officers, the same number of people move through more slowly. If you are connecting to a domestic flight after an international arrival, you risk missing that connection. Some airlines will rebook you on the next available flight at no charge, but this is not may provide and depends on the airline's policy.

Before booking a tight connection during a shutdown, contact your airline directly and ask whether they will rebook you free of charge if you miss your connection due to customs delays. Some airlines have explicit shutdown policies; others do not.

Air traffic control and flight cancellations

The FAA's air traffic control system is funded separately from most federal agencies, through the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. This means air traffic controllers continue working and being paid during a shutdown. Planes do not stop flying, and the FAA does not cancel flights because of the shutdown itself.

However, delays still increase because of indirect effects. Some FAA facilities reduce their staffing for maintenance and administrative work, which can slow down equipment repairs. More importantly, the delays created by security screening and customs processing back up into the airfield itself—planes cannot push back from the gate if passengers are still in security, so departure times slip, and this ripples through the day's schedule.

In the 2018–2019 shutdown, the FAA did not report any safety incidents caused by staffing shortages, but delays grew steadily as the shutdown continued. By week three, some major airports were experiencing 15 to 20 percent more delays than normal.

Which airports are hit hardest

Large, busy airports with high international traffic are affected more than smaller ones. Airports like Atlanta (ATL), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), and New York (JFK and Newark) see bigger delays because they have more passengers moving through security and customs simultaneously. A 5 percent absence rate at a small regional airport might mean one fewer officer; at a major hub, it means five to ten fewer officers.

Airports in the Northeast and California tend to report longer delays during shutdowns because they handle more international traffic and have tighter gate schedules. If you are traveling through a major hub during a shutdown, expect longer waits at every checkpoint.

What airlines do during a shutdown

Airlines cannot control TSA or customs processing, but they do adjust their operations. Some airlines add extra flights to compensate for expected delays, spreading passengers across more departures. Others adjust crew schedules to account for longer turnaround times between flights. A few airlines have published shutdown contingency plans that explain how they will handle rebooking if you miss a connection.

Check your airline's website before traveling to see whether they have posted a shutdown policy. If they have not, call their customer service line and ask directly: "If I miss my connection due to security or customs delays during a government shutdown, will you rebook me on the next available flight at no charge?" Write down the name of the representative and the date of the call, in case you need to reference it later.

How to prepare for travel during a shutdown

Start by checking whether a shutdown is actually happening. The U.S. government announces shutdowns in advance, usually with a few days' notice. Major news outlets cover them prominently. If you are unsure, visit the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) website, which publishes shutdown status and which agencies are affected.

Once you confirm a shutdown is underway, take these steps: arrive at the airport earlier than normal (two hours for domestic, three for international); check your airline's website the morning of travel for real-time security wait times; pack snacks and water in your carry-on in case you spend extra time in the airport; and read your airline's app so you can receive push notifications if your flight is delayed or cancelled.

If you are traveling internationally, also check the CBP website for any published guidance on processing delays at your arrival airport. Some airports post estimated wait times during shutdowns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my flight be cancelled because of a government shutdown?

Flights are rarely cancelled due to a shutdown itself. The FAA keeps air traffic control running, so planes can take off and land safely. However, you might miss your flight because of longer security or customs lines, which is different from the airline cancelling it. Arriving extra early reduces this risk.

Do I get a refund if I miss my flight because of security delays during a shutdown?

No. Airlines are not required to refund you if you miss your flight because you did not arrive in time, even if the delay was caused by TSA staffing shortages. However, many airlines will rebook you on the next available flight at no charge. Call your airline before traveling to confirm their policy.

Are TSA PreCheck and Global Entry lines shorter during a shutdown?

Usually, yes. TSA PreCheck and Global Entry lanes have fewer passengers, so they move faster even when overall staffing is reduced. If you have either program, use it during a shutdown. If you do not, consider whether you travel frequently enough to justify the cost.

How long do shutdowns usually last?

Recent shutdowns have lasted anywhere from a few days to five weeks. There is no standard length. Congress must pass a funding bill to end the shutdown, and the time this takes depends on political negotiations. Check the news for updates on how long the current shutdown is expected to last.

Should I reschedule my flight if a shutdown is happening?

If your flight is more than a week away, you can probably travel safely by arriving extra early. If your flight is in the next few days and you have a tight connection or cannot afford to miss it, contact your airline about rebooking options. Some airlines waive change fees during shutdowns, but this varies by airline and is not may provide.