A bald eagle soars over Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025.
A global tech outage hit airlines, banks, healthcare and public transit and led to the long lines at GSP on Friday morning July 19, 2024.

A partial government shutdown is underway after Congress failed to pass legislation extending funding for operations past Sept. 30.

That means hundreds of thousands of federal workers will be furloughed and non-essential duties will be suspended until a deal is reached.

Federal workers who are deemed essential must continue working without immediate pay but should receive backpay once the shutdown ends.

Much of what touches travel is considered essential, like air traffic control and border security, but not everything. The U.S. Travel Association estimates the shutdown could cost the nation’s travel economy $1 billion in losses each week.

Here’s what travelers should know about the government shutdown.

Will my flight be delayed? Are airports open during a shutdown?

Flights should still be able to continue during a partial government shutdown since Transportation Security Administration workers who screen at airport security checkpoints, those who give flight clearance and verify travelers’ identities at border control are deemed essential and are still required to work.

However, the trade group Airlines for America, which represents United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and others, warned "the system may need to slow down, reducing efficiency."

During the last government shutdown in 2019, the number of absences by air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration officers rose as workers missed paychecks, extending waits at some airports.

Are trains working during a government shutdown?

Amtrak trains will continue operating normally in the shutdown.

"Passengers planning to travel on Amtrak trains in the Northeast Corridor and across the country in the coming days and weeks can be assured that Amtrak will remain open for business," Amtrak said in a statement to USA TODAY.

While Amtrak receives federal grants, it also earns ticket revenue, so it has the money to keep going. However, the Rail Passengers Association notes, if a shutdown goes on long enough, operations could be strained.

Will cruise ports still work during a government shutdown?

The government shutdown shouldn’t directly impact cruise sailings.

"As far as the impact on cruises, essential federal personnel – including the U.S. Coast Guard, TSA, and CBP agents – will continue to report to work, so core port and security functions will remain in place," the cruise industry’s leading trade group Cruise Lines International Association told USA TODAY.

However, CLIA says some experiences offered at U.S. destinations, like national park visits, may be impacted.

Are national parks open during a government shutdown?

National Park operations will vary during the government shutdown.

In general parks will remain open and “park roads, lookouts, trails, and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to visitors,” according to newly published contingency plans on the Department of Interior’s website.

Parks with accessible areas that collect fees under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act are to use balances from those fees to continue providing basic visitor services like restroom maintenance, trash collection and campground operation.

However, the plan says the National Park Service will not operate nor offer visitor services in parks without accessible areas, though essential services like law enforcement and border safety will continue. Also facilities and areas that are typically locked or secured after business hours will largely remain so during the shutdown.

Contributing: Kathleen Wong, Nathan Diller, USA TODAY; Reuters

(This story has been updated with new information.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How the government shutdown could impact flights, trains, and cruises

Reporting by Eve Chen, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect