U.S. Travel Warns of Thanksgiving Travel Chaos if Government Shutdown Continues

The U.S. Travel Association, supported by nearly 500 organizations across the travel industry, has urged congressional leaders to reopen the government before the Thanksgiving travel period.

Thousands of federal workers, including air traffic controllers and TSA officers, remain unpaid while travelers face ongoing delays and cancellations.

“Air travel’s number one priority is safety and while safety will be maintained, travelers will pay a heavy and completely unnecessary price in terms of delays, cancelations and lost confidence in the air travel experience,” said Geoff Freeman, U.S. Travel Association President and CEO.

Thanksgiving travel is crucial to the U.S. economy. Last year, over 20 million passengers flew during Thanksgiving week, generating billions in spending and marking one of the busiest travel times annually.

Supports jobs and small businesses nationwide
Boosts local economies through spending and tax revenues
Enables family connections during the holiday season

“Thanksgiving should be about spending time with family, not worrying about flight disruptions or canceled plans,” Freeman added.

The coalition stresses the urgent need to resolve the shutdown to prevent further economic and travel disruptions.

Author’s summary: The ongoing government shutdown is causing major disruptions to Thanksgiving travel, risking economic losses and traveler confidence during one of the busiest travel seasons in the U.S.

U.S. Travel Association — 2025-11-04

U.S. Travel Warns of Thanksgiving Travel Chaos if Government Shutdown Continues

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