You may be in for a bumpy ride if you’re flying this Thanksgiving.
The government shutdown has entered its 36th day, making it the longest in history. More than 700,000 federal workers have been working without pay for the past month, including air traffic controllers and airport security screeners. Pressure is mounting as more airport workers and controllers call in sick. With Thanksgiving fast approaching, travel companies are warning that it will get a lot worse.
The U.S. Travel Association, along with 500 organizations, sent a letter to Congress on Monday urging lawmakers to end the shutdown. It warned that the consequences will be immediate, “deeply felt by millions of American travelers, and economically devastating to communities in every state.”
The letter added that the U.S. economy has lost more than $4 billion during the shutdown and stands to lose more each day it continues. Last year, more than 20 million people flew over Thanksgiving weekend—one of the busiest times of the year—but this year, flight delays and cancellations could derail family travel plans.
“Travel spending during the holiday generates billions of dollars in economic activity, supporting jobs, local tax bases, and small businesses nationwide. A continued shutdown is likely to significantly suppress travel demand and spending, creating a real threat to American workers, businesses, and the overall economy,” the letter signed by tourism destination boards, hotels, and travel operators said.
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Related: Travels Delays Mount as Air Traffic Controllers Call Out Sick
Airports have been experiencing delays and disruptions since the shutdown began. Vice President J.D. Vance warned last week that it could be a disaster with Thanksgiving approaching. “Look it could be a disaster. It really could be, because at that point you’re talking about people have missed three paychecks. They’ve missed four paychecks. How many of them are not going to show up for work?”
This week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cautioned that the U.S. may have to close some portions of the airspace due to staffing shortages. “You will see mass flight delays. You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace because we just cannot manage it, because we don’t have the air traffic controllers.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) tweeted that nearly 13,000 controllers are working without pay, and half of its 30 facilities are facing staffing issues. In New York, 80% of controllers were absent on Friday. “As we continue to reiterate, we will never compromise on safety. When staffing shortages occur, the FAA will reduce the flow of air traffic to maintain safety. This may result in delays or cancellations.”
Nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay for weeks, ensuring the safety of more than 50,000 daily operations across the national airspace system (NAS).
As we head into this weekend, a surge in callouts is straining staffing levels at multiple…
— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) November 1, 2025
Last weekend, there were 98 staffing triggers nationwide, forcing air traffic controllers to reroute or delay flights to handle the workload. Los Angeles and San Diego airports saw flight delays of more than an hour on Sunday. In Houston, wait times have increased significantly, with travelers waiting up to three hours to clear security at Bush Airport.
With no end in sight, airports are advising travelers to arrive early for their flights and check flight statuses. If possible, avoid connections and book early morning flights to reduce the chance of disruptions later in the day.
Related: Maybe You Shouldn’t Do This During the Government Shutdown. Even Though It’s Free
