How the Authorities Shutdown Is Impacting Journey

The DOT’s efforts to modernize ATC tools throughout the nation that started earlier in 2025 will be capable of proceed for the close to future, as Duffy says the DOT has pulled ahead $12.5 billion of that funding. However, the event, testing, and analysis of sure new know-how in air visitors management operations—an FAA initiative referred to as NextGen—could be paused through the shutdown, per the DOT’s contingency plan. That means a delay to the roll out of sorely wanted tools enhancements in airports across the nation.

Passports and visas

The State Department will proceed to course of passport and visa purposes as standard. The Bureau of Consular Affairs and the US Passport Agency will each stay open and operational through the shutdown, per the company’s web site.

The fall months are usually the gradual season by way of the variety of passport purposes, so you probably have paperwork for a brand new passport pending, count on to obtain your little blue e book inside the routine four-to six-week processing window.

The State Department can even proceed aiding American residents who’re overseas, however sure home assist for consular operations is suspended.

Customs and Border Protection

More than 4,500 personnel from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the company which oversees airport customs and immigration, will likely be furloughed, based on a shutdown plan from the Department of Homeland Security.

However, the remainder of the workforce, greater than 60,000 workers, will nonetheless be required to indicate up for work with out a paycheck. For vacationers, that implies that passport checks at airport immigration kiosks, in addition to customs operations, ought to proceed as standard.

CBP additionally oversees the Global Entry program, and it’s not clear if these purposes and appointments will nonetheless be processed, because the Department of Homeland Security didn’t point out Global Entry in its shutdown plan. Several members of Congress observe on their web sites that Global Entry appointments will likely be suspended, nonetheless a CBP spokesperson told Barron’s that processing purposes and scheduling appointments wouldn’t be delayed. (Condé Nast Traveler has reached out to CBP for extra data.)

Which nationwide parks are open throughout the federal government shutdown?

US nationwide parks will likely be stored partially open through the length of the federal government shutdown, based on a National Park Service (NPS) contingency plan revealed on September 30. Accessible areas equivalent to park roads, lookouts, trails, and open-air websites “will generally remain accessible to visitors,” the plan says, whereas buildings and monuments, equivalent to park customer facilities, will likely be closed.