With the holiday season quickly approaching, it’s still unclear when the U.S. government shutdown will end.
Thanksgiving is on November 27 this year, a little over a month away at the time of this reporting. The government shutdown, underway since October 1, is already disrupting travel and aviation across the country. Since the shutdown began, essential Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents and air traffic controllers have worked without pay.
The shutdown has been directly linked to air traffic controllers calling out of work, causing flight delays at major airports. They include Chicago O’Hare, Newark Liberty, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta.
If the shutdown lasts through Thanksgiving, delays and increased foot traffic could lead to longer lines and heavier airport congestion. Last year, ahead of Thanksgiving, the American Automobile Association (AAA) forecast that travel for the holiday would exceed pre-pandemic numbers. The source claimed that nearly 80 million planned to travel over 50 miles during the busy travel period.
The full economic impact of the government shutdown on U.S. air travel (including airfare) has yet to be determined. That said, the U.S. Travel Association’s President and CEO Geoff Freeman commented in a late September press release. He said, “A shutdown is a wholly preventable blow to America’s travel economy — costing $1 billion every week — and affecting millions of travelers and businesses while placing unnecessary strain on an already overextended federal travel workforce.” The press release also noted that in an Ipsos survey, “60% of Americans said they would cancel or avoid trips by air in the event of a shutdown.”
According to Fast Company, the price comparison service InsureMyTrip reports that purchased travel insurance policies including “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage were at a yearly high in September and October. The safety net provides travelers more protections should their travel arrangements go awry.
What Else Is There To Know About The Government Shutdown And Its Possible Disruptions On 2025 Holiday Travel?
For many Americans, Thanksgiving 2025 travel could start as early as Friday, November 21. Travelers can take several steps to navigate air travel during the industry’s fragile state. Staying updated on information from carriers and the airports you’ll be flying into and out of is key. Arriving earlier than usual, keeping travel insurance current, and signing up for carrier alerts can help minimize disruption if the shutdown drags on. Those planning Thanksgiving trips may also want to book flexible fares and avoid tight connections, as even minor delays could cascade during peak travel days.
The government shutdown has deepened rifts between Republican and Democratic lawmakers. The Trump administration explicitly blames Democrats, with the White House’s designated shutdown page stating, “Democrats have shut down the government.” Separately, several airports in the country have declined to play a 37-second video at TSA checkpoints in which Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem directly blames Democrats for the ongoing shutdown.
“One of the many consequences of the Schumer shutdown is that we are seeing, and will continue to see, even more delays for travel,” Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told The Hill. “Thanksgiving week is the biggest travel time of the year. If the Democrats are irresponsible enough to be trying to force air-traffic controllers and TSA to work without paychecks through Thanksgiving, the traveling public would pay the price.”
“At some point, sanity will return to at least some small sliver of Democrats and the lights will be turned back on,” he continued. “But damned if I know when.”