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

The U.S. Travel Association, joined by nearly 500 organizations and companies from all sectors of the travel industry, sent a letter to congressional leaders urging immediate action to reopen the government ahead of the Thanksgiving travel rush.

Thousands of federal employees, including air traffic controllers and TSA officers, are working without pay, causing travelers to face increased 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.

Economic Impact of Thanksgiving Travel

Thanksgiving travel plays a vital role in the U.S. economy. Last year, over 20 million passengers flew during Thanksgiving week, generating billions of dollars in spending and making it one of the busiest and most economically important travel periods.

Besides reuniting families, Thanksgiving travel supports local economies by sustaining jobs, small businesses, and tax revenue across every state.

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

Call for Immediate Government Action

Nearly 500 travel industry organizations advocate to Congress for reopening the government.
Federal workers like air traffic controllers and TSA officers remain unpaid, impacting travel services.
Ongoing shutdown threatens to cause widespread travel disruptions during the critical holiday period.

Author's summary: The ongoing government shutdown risks severe disruptions during Thanksgiving travel, impacting millions and threatening vital economic activity linked to the holiday.

U.S. Travel Association — 2025-11-04