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 called on Congress to swiftly reopen the government before the busy Thanksgiving travel period.

Thousands of federal employees, including air traffic controllers and TSA officers, are currently working without pay, leading to flight delays and cancellations that disrupt the travel experience.

Economic Impact of Thanksgiving Travel

Thanksgiving travel is a major economic driver in the U.S., with over 20 million passengers flying during Thanksgiving week last year. This period generates billions of dollars in spending and supports local economies by sustaining jobs, small businesses, and tax revenues nationwide.

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

Call for Immediate Action

The coalition’s letter to congressional leaders stresses the urgent need to end the shutdown to prevent further damage to the travel industry and traveler confidence during the critical holiday season.

Author's summary: The ongoing government shutdown threatens to cause significant Thanksgiving travel disruptions, impacting millions of travelers and the broader U.S. economy unless resolved immediately.

U.S. Travel Association — 2025-11-04