Short answer: Commercial flights and airport security generally continue during a government shutdown. TSA officers and air traffic controllers are usually required to work because their duties protect life and property. Delays can grow if a lapse lasts and unpaid workers face increasing strain.
What stays open
TSA passenger screening and FAA air traffic control are typically treated as excepted activities. Airlines are private businesses and keep operating. Airport facilities are usually run by local authorities rather than the federal government.
Some federal work that supports aviation may slow. Hiring, training, administrative approvals, inspections that are not immediately safety-critical, complaint handling, and project work can be reduced under an agency plan.
Why delays can still happen
Excepted federal employees may have to work before receiving their delayed pay. During long shutdowns, unscheduled absences can rise, making it harder to staff every checkpoint or control facility. Airlines may then face flow restrictions, longer lines, or schedule changes.
A shutdown is only one source of disruption. Weather, equipment, airline staffing, and local construction still matter. Check the operational source closest to the problem.
| Need | Check |
|---|---|
| Flight status or rebooking | Your airline |
| Airport security wait information | TSA and the airport |
| Airspace restrictions and national delays | FAA |
| Airport access, parking, and terminal changes | Airport authority |
| International document status | State Department |
Travel-day checklist
- Confirm the flight in the airline app before leaving.
- Check the departure airport’s official alerts.
- Allow additional screening time during a prolonged lapse.
- Keep medicines and essentials in carry-on baggage.
- Do not assume a news report about one airport applies nationwide.
- If traveling internationally, verify your passport or visa status separately.
What about TSA PreCheck and Global Entry?
Screening operations and enrollment services are different functions. A PreCheck lane can operate while enrollment appointments or support slow. Global Entry is run by Customs and Border Protection, and its enrollment operations may also vary. Confirm a scheduled appointment before traveling to it.
Official sources
- TSA travel information
- FAA National Airspace System status
- FAA flight delay information
- Department of Transportation
For federal destinations after you land, see national parks during a shutdown.