Airlines and travelers alike are bracing for travel chaos if the government shutdown that began on Wednesday is not brought to an end quickly.
The U.S. Travel Association has warned lawmakers that a shutdown would not only cost the U.S. economy $1 billion per week, but also affect millions of travelers who rely on federal workers in airport security and in control towers.
The Transportation Security Administration said in a statement that an “extended” shutdown will eventually “result in longer wait times at airports,” which is one of the few things Americans on both sides of the political aisle remain fully united against.
The vast majority of the 61,000 TSA workers, as well as more than 13,000 air traffic controllers, are required to work through the shutdown without pay, according