Is Amtrak’s Future in Jeopardy? Discover How Upcoming Changes Could Affect Your Journey!

As Americans prepare for a week of busy holiday travel, a government shutdown continues to threaten after a bipartisan accord reached by Congress failed to gain approval due to conservative backlash.

The initial agreement made on Tuesday was intended to fund government agencies until at least March but was turned down by President-elect Donald Trump, who urged his supporters to do the same. Ultimately, a Republican-supported agreement to avert the shutdown was rejected on Thursday by numerous conservative and Democratic legislators.

As the Friday evening deadline rapidly approaches, various government agencies might soon experience the consequences of the impasse while the holiday rush persists. A primary concern for many is: How will travel plans be affected, if at all?

Fortunately, it appears that most travel modes, including flights and cruises, should not be disrupted. This encompasses train travel through Amtrak.

Here is what to know about traveling with Amtrak in the event of a shutdown.

What travelers need to be aware of: Would a government shutdown impact flights, cruises?

Is Amtrak affected by a government shutdown?

No, Amtrak train services are not influenced by a government shutdown.

The National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) does not close down, cease operations, or halt passenger transportation during any federal funding lapse, as per the Office of the Inspector General (OIG).

Since Amtrak is financed through operational revenue and federal grants, it does not encounter funding problems during a shutdown. Additionally, Amtrak is not categorized as a department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government, and its overseeing regulatory entity, the OIG, remains operational during shutdowns as well.

An ongoing shutdown could potentially affect services if it continues long enough, as Amtrak may eventually face cash shortages. Even in such instances, it would be improbable for the rail service to shut down entirely – instead, passengers may likely encounter reduced staffing, limited routes, delays, or a suspension of non-essential services, according to the Employment Security Commission.

What is a government shutdown?

Every fiscal year, Congress designates funds for federal agencies to function. When there is neither a signed appropriation nor a continuing resolution, the impacted federal agencies must cease their operations or stop normal expenditures, as per the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM). 

When is the deadline for a government shutdown?

Current funding concludes on Friday night when Congress aims to adjourn for the holidays.

When have government shutdowns occurred?

The federal government has experienced closures 21 times since 1977, resulting in a total of 163 days. This averages nearly eight days per shutdown.

The president with the most shutdown days is Jimmy Carter, with 56 days across five distinct shutdowns from 1977 to 1979.

The longest continuous shutdown occurred during President Donald Trump’s tenure when approximately 800,000 federal employees went unpaid for 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019. Additionally, a three-day shutdown in 2018 increased the total to 38 days during Trump’s last presidency.

Are other travel modes affected by the shutdown?

The shutdown is not expected to significantly disrupt cruises, flights, or other travel modes.

Funding to agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, and Customs and Border Protection would be stalled. However, the personnel you typically encounter at airports and seaports, as well as the controllers managing your flights, are deemed essential and will continue working without pay throughout the shutdown.

However, there could be financial repercussions. A government shutdown is estimated to cost the nation’s travel economy approximately $140 million daily, as per an estimate from the U.S. Travel Association.

Contributors: Zach Wichter, Nathan Diller, Ahjané Forbes, Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY