Travel groups and airlines are warning of potential disruptions after the US federal government partially shut down due to a failure by Congress to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
A joint statement from several groups, including Airlines for America, said that without a funding deal, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers may face unscheduled absences, causing longer airport lines and flight delays. “Travellers and the US economy cannot afford to have essential TSA personnel working without pay,” the statement read.
The partial shutdown began at midnight (05:00 GMT) on Saturday after lawmakers could not pass a funding bill. Democrats had been pushing for immigration reforms in exchange for a deal, including stricter rules on ICE operations, bans on masked officers, and improved identification for federal agents.
Senate Democrats blocked two DHS funding bills earlier in the week, citing the absence of immigration reform measures. The most recent funding measure only covered two weeks, leaving lawmakers scrambling for a compromise.
President Donald Trump told reporters, “we’ll see what happens” regarding a deal with Democrats and emphasized, “We always have to protect our law enforcement.”
The shutdown affects several DHS agencies, including the TSA and the US Coast Guard. Vice Admiral Thomas Allan warned that a prolonged funding gap could leave 56,000 Coast Guard personnel unpaid and force non-critical missions to be suspended.
The Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees air traffic controllers, remains funded for the year, reducing the risk of major flight chaos compared with last year’s 43-day shutdown. However, TSA agents could still face unpaid work, leading to delays if staff call in sick.
DHS has $165 billion from the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” including $75 billion earmarked for ICE, which may help mitigate some shortfalls. Congress is scheduled to recess until 23 February, but lawmakers could return sooner if a deal nears completion.
