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The failure of the US Congress to reach an agreement on a spending package for the new fiscal year has led to a government shutdown that began on October 1, causing serious and complex impacts on many sectors, especially the tourism industry. Millions of international and domestic tourists' plans to explore the US have been completely disrupted, with a series of essential services suspended, from airport security to famous parks and museums. This event not only causes economic losses but also entails consequences for heritage operations and preservation.
While flights will continue to fly, the U.S. airline industry is facing immense pressure and the risk of massive delays and cancellations as essential workers, including air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at airport security checkpoints, are forced to continue working without pay.
Flights will still take off, but the aviation industry will be under great pressure with many delays and cancellations.
Staffing shortages have been reported during previous government shutdowns, leading to long security wait times and congestion at major aviation hubs. A notable example was in January 2019, when a mass sick leave by air traffic controllers forced the temporary shutdown of New York’s LaGuardia Airport, causing a chain reaction of delays in New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Atlanta, forcing the then-President to agree to temporary funding. The shutdown even directly affected efforts to modernize the US air traffic control system.
Although the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has met its goal of hiring more than 2,000 new air traffic controllers for fiscal year 2025, the recruitment, field training, and performance analysis of these new hires will almost certainly be delayed.
The biggest and most visible impact for visitors is the potential closure of the 433 national parks across the United States. According to the National Parks Conservation Association, visitors may find gates locked or closed. Even if they manage to enter, they will not have any support services from National Park Service (NPS) staff. The association’s president, Theresa Pierno, warned that the risk is higher now than in previous times, when parks were already in crisis. Not only will the closures result in thousands of furloughed employees and millions of dollars in lost tourism revenue for local communities, but they will also jeopardize the preservation of natural and historic resources.
A government shutdown could shut down 433 parks across the US, according to the National Parks Conservation Association.
In addition to parks, many of America’s most famous museums could also be affected. The Smithsonian, the world’s largest museum organization, which oversees 21 museums and the National Zoo (mostly in Washington, DC), said its facilities will remain open until at least October 6 thanks to remaining funds. After that date, the future of museums, including the National Air and Space Museum, remains a big question mark.
Visitors may find gates locked or closed. Or if they do manage to get into the park, they may find no support services available.
The government shutdown and the resulting shutdown of key tourism services are dealing a devastating blow to local economies. Communities and businesses in states that rely heavily on tourist spending at restaurants, gas stations and other services will face significant revenue losses. The impact is even greater because many travel companies and hospitality workers have been reeling from a drop in Canadian tourism since President Trump returned to the White House.
In response, some states have taken it upon themselves to pay to keep their popular parks open. Utah announced in the fall of 2023 that it would keep its top five national parks open, and Colorado confirmed that it would keep four national parks open, signaling local efforts to mitigate the damage to tourism.
However, amid the shutdown, some essential services remain. Amtrak, which operates as an independent agency, has said it will operate normally across the United States. In particular, the US State Department has pledged that consular operations at home and abroad, including the issuance of passports and visas, will not be interrupted. This is because the revenue from these services allows the State Department to sustain itself without relying on annual funding from Congress, providing some peace of mind for those who need visas or consular services.
