Credit: Inside The MagicWe are nearly four weeks into the government shutdown, making this the second-longest shutdown in the history of the Republic. For those government workers who have been furloughed by the shutdown or those who are working without pay, Friday marks an ominous day.
Friday marks the first missed paycheck for government employees, and with the end of the month rapidly approaching, that means rent and mortgage payments are coming due soon, with no paycheck to make those payments.
Employees of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) have now been keeping airlines running for 24 days without a paycheck; however, the financial stress could cause some of them to call out sick for other part-time jobs that actually give them a paycheck.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged that if this shutdown drags on, American airports will see massive delays at TSA check-in lines, flight delays, and even more flight cancellations in the coming weeks. Duffy said, “I can’t guarantee you that your flight’s going to be on time. I can’t guarantee that your flight’s not going to be canceled. It’s going to depend on our air traffic controllers coming in to work every single day.”
As Disney World starts to get busier with the approaching holidays, guests can expect longer lines at their local airport, TSA, and Orlando International Airport when they return home. On Friday, there were 25 flight delays and three cancellations by mid-afternoon at Orlando Airport.
This afternoon, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson recessed the House of Representatives until October 28, meaning there will be no deal to end this shutdown until at least next Tuesday. However, this shutdown appears to be going to last even longer.
This will have a dramatic impact on travel to Disney World, especially as some of the busiest times of the year approach. In the next few weeks, Disney World will host its half-marathon, Halloween, Veterans Day, and New Jersey Teachers’ Convention weekend. Should the shutdown continue, it could impact Thanksgiving travel to Disney World, too.
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is collecting food for TSA and FAA employees currently working without a contract and asks that you remember that, despite the long lines, those TSA employees are working to get you through security and aren’t getting paid to do it.
Are you concerned about travel disruptions due to the shutdown? Let us know in the comments.