Queues at US airports. Archive photo: John Anthony Peralta / Shutterstock As Thanksgiving approaches and expectations for peak passenger traffic in the U.S. rise, the federal government shutdown crisis is intensifying at airports, where a severe shortage of air traffic controllers and TSA security screeners is leading to heavy delays, cancellations, and long lines.
The U.S. Travel Association sent a scathing letter signed by over 500 organizations and companies from all tourism sectors to congressional leadership. The letter calls for an immediate end to the government shutdown and urges the prevention of the collapse of the travel system during the holiday season, which begins in late November.
According to data, more than 20 million passengers flew during the Thanksgiving holiday period last year, making it one of the most crucial and important periods for the US tourism economy.
As mentioned, during the current government shutdown, thousands of federal employees, including air traffic controllers and TSA agents, continue to work without pay, leading to delays, cancellations, and a loss of confidence in the traveling public.
"Air travel's top priority is safety, and it will remain so - but travelers will pay a heavy and completely unnecessary price in the form of delays, cancellations and a loss of confidence in the flying experience," said U.S. Travel President and CEO Jeff Freeman, adding: "Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time for family, not for worrying about flight disruptions or canceled plans. The damage from the government shutdown is getting worse by the minute, with 60% of Americans reconsidering their travel plans. Congress must do its job. The fastest way to restore trust and resume travel is to reopen the government by passing a clean temporary budget."
Houston Airport. Photo: BDS Media / Shutterstock
At the same time, many passengers continue to report long lines, with footage of the chaos at security screening being circulated on social media, including videos from IAH airport in Houston that went viral and sparked sharp criticism of the political implications of the situation.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy shared one of those videos on the X Network showing the unusual congestion in Houston, and directly criticized the Democratic Party, accompanying the video with the word: "Agree."
Duffy later issued a scathing statement: "Yesterday another grim record was broken: 84% of delays were caused by a lack of manpower. If the shutdown doesn't end now, air traffic controllers will once again receive a paycheck with $0. Many of them don't show up to work because they need to find a job that will pay them to survive. Democrats, the ball is in your court. Vote to reopen the government now, so these hard-working Americans don't find themselves in this terrible situation."