As the wheels of Washington grind to a halt yet again in the Republican-led House of Representatives, another United States federal government shutdown is a concern.
Travel, by and large, is considered a "non-essential" function—and non-essential functions either dim or go dark.
U.S. travel services that close during a government shutdown
Generally speaking, here's what is not available during a federal government shutdown:
Passport services (severely impacted but not halted)
Global Entry/ TSA PreCheck applications
Visa processing
National parks and national park units including monuments and historic sites. (During a shutdown in 2018–2019 during the Trump Adminsistration, many national parks were kept open, but the resulting neglect and vandalism have led to a reversal of that policy.) A few places with national park status, such as San Francisco's The Presidio, generate their own income independent of the government and can remain open.
The Smithsonian museums remain open until Oct. 7
Ford’s Theatre (in past shutdowns, scheduled performances have been moved to other venues)
The White House Visitor Center, U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, and all tours of government buildings
The Appalachian Trail
In past shutdowns, primary arteries that pass through some national parks (such as U.S. 441 through Great Smoky Mountains National Park from Gatlinburg, Tennessee to Cherokee, North Carolina) remained open, but parking areas, restrooms, and tributary roads were likely to be closed.
These things remain open
But these might have significant delays because of stresses on staff:
Air traffic control
Transportation Security Agency (TSA)
Amtrak
U.S. Customs and Border Control, including cruise ship ports
U.S. Postal Service
In the past, some states have stepped up to reopen their busiest national parks, but that's not a given. At those, you may be able to enter, but services such as trash collection, ranger programs, snow clearing, and restrooms may be shut down.
State parks should remain open since they're state-funded.
Members of Congress continue to receive their own paychecks.
