Government Shut Down and Travel: Expect minimal impact

This article is reprinted with permission:

A shut down of the Federal government, which took effect on October 1, will have minimal impact on air and rail travelers in the United States. Essential government personnel – including those covering air traffic control, Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) and Customs and Border Protection – as well as those like passport processors whose work is paid by fees, will all continue to work as usual.

• The Washington Post reports that “Any employee or office that „provides for the national security, including the conduct of foreign relations essential to the national security or the safety of life and property.‟ That means the U.S. military will keep operating, for one. So will embassies abroad.”
• According to the TSA, nonessential employees will be furloughed, but “the majority of our officers who screen passengers/luggage will remain on the job.”
• NBC News reports that, “The Federal Aviation Administration’s air traffic controllers will also continue their normal activities so flights should not be disrupted, the agency said. FAA inspectors will still conduct inspections in the field and medical certification for pilots and air traffic controllers will continue.”
• The majority of the Department of Homeland Security‟s employees are expected to stay on the job, including uniformed agents and officers at the country‟s borders and ports of entry, members of the Coast Guard, TSA officers, Secret Service personnel, other law enforcement agents and officers.
• The Department of State says that it would continue processing foreign applications for visas and U.S. applications for passports. That‟s because it has some funds outside the annual congressional appropriation. However, delays in processing may occur.
• Amtrak, which relies on federal subsidies, will continue to operate and states “Passengers planning to travel on Amtrak trains in the Northeast Corridor and across the country in the coming days and weeks and be assured that Amtrak will remain open for business.”