askST: What does the US government shutdown mean for a tourist like me?

SINGAPORE – Are you planning a holiday to the United States as the year draws to an end, but unsure if your trip to New York or Las Vegas will be affected by the US government shutdown?

The shutdown entered its 36th day on Nov 5, becoming the longest closure in US history, with no end in sight. As at Nov 7, lawmakers from both sides of the political divide

have shown no signs of a breakthrough

in resolving the stalemate.

The Straits Times looks at what travellers need to know about flying to the US during the shutdown and which tourist activities will be affected.

Q: I am flying this weekend to visit some friends in the US. Is my flight going to be delayed or cancelled?

A: You may want to buckle up for this one.

Air traffic controllers and US Transportation Security Administration employees who staff airport security checkpoints are still working – albeit without pay.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Nov 5 that he would

order a

10 per cent cut in flights

at 40 major US airports beginning Nov 7. The move is aimed at taking pressure off air traffic controllers. This would reduce as many as 1,800 flights and over 268,000 airline seats daily.

At major airports such as New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and San Francisco International Airport, travellers can expect longer delays and even tighter connections for those with layovers.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it will exempt international flights from the cuts.

But if you have to connect to domestic flights, take note. The cuts will target regional flying and non-hub domestic routes instead.

The four largest carriers in the US – American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines – said the disruption would be limited this weekend and that most customers would not be affected by the cuts.

If you are flying with them, you may change or cancel your flight for a refund if you wish to do so.

Even if your flight is not affected, expect chaos at the airports. So give yourself more time to navigate to your gate, said The New York Times.

Q: Should I have flown on an earlier date to avoid delays caused by the shutdown? How has the shutdown affected airports since it began on Oct 1?

A: The early bird may get the worm, but getting on an earlier flight would not have guaranteed you a hassle-free trip to the US.

There were staffing issues at several airports reported as early as on Oct 6, just a few days after the shutdown began.

Affected airports included major ones in Denver, Chicago and Dallas. Flights headed to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport – which is among the busiest airports in the US – were delayed by 41 minutes on the evening of Oct 7, said FAA.

Flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport were delayed an average of 31 minutes on Oct 23. Delays at New York’s LaGuardia Airport

averaged 62 minutes

.

More than 8,800 flights were delayed on Oct 26, with a US Department of Transportation official saying that 44 per cent of those delays stemmed from controller absences.

The shutdown comes at a time when the US travel and tourism sector is suffering.

The US Travel Association estimates that the travel economy is at risk of losing US$1 billion (S$1.3 billion) a week due to the disruptions.

According to the association’s website, more than US$5.2 billion in travel spending has been lost since the government shutdown as at Nov 7.

It also said that inbound visits are expected to decrease from 72.4 million in 2024 to 67.9 million in 2025. This is a decline not seen since Covid-19.

Q: Will travel insurance help? What should I look out for when buying travel insurance?

A: Travel insurance may help, but it depends on your policy and when you purchased it.

Most policies have a standard “known event” clause, which excludes coverage for events that are publicly known at the time the policy is purchased, said The New York Times.

These events include hurricanes, pandemics and government shutdowns.

The New York Times added that if you purchased your policy when the shutdown was already in effect, claims for a cancelled trip are likely to be denied.

Mr Alvino Kor, Senior Vice-President of General Insurance at Singlife, told ST that a flight being cancelled due to the government shutdown is not an “insured event”.

However, Singlife’s Travel Plus and Travel Prestige plans with “trip cancellation for any reason or trip curtailment for any reason” coverage allow claims up to $5,000 and $7,500, reimbursing 50 per cent and 60 per cent of eligible costs, respectively.

Chubb’s customer service agent Idzat K. referred ST to the general exclusions section of the TravellerShield Plus policy wording.

TravellerShield Plus is underwritten by Chubb Insurance Singapore and distributed by DBS Bank.

The insurance plan does not pay for claims arising directly or indirectly from “any known event/foreseen circumstance, which means riot, strike, civil commotion or natural disaster that was publicised or reported by the media or through travel advice issued by a national or international body or agency before the policy was taken up or before the trip was booked”.

Mr Idzat said that the US government shutdown counts as such a known event or foreseen circumstance.

But if you took up a policy before the shutdown was announced, you can submit a claim to see if you can be reimbursed for any flight disruptions, he said.

Q: What does it mean when the US government shuts down? Why does it happen?

A: When the US government shuts down, many federal government functions are suspended and many federal employees are furloughed.

The US government runs on 12 appropriation Bills passed each year by Congress and signed by the president.

When all 12 Bills are not adopted by the start of the fiscal year on Oct 1, Congress and the president pass short-term extensions of current funding, known formally as continuing resolutions (CRs).

If they cannot agree to a CR, the government has a funding gap and federal agencies may need to take steps to step down.

At the end of September, Congress failed to pass a fourth temporary funding patch, triggering a shutdown.

Q: I have a detailed itinerary and plan to visit the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian museums and some national parks. Will I be able to visit these tourist attractions during the shutdown?

A: You will not be able to visit the Smithsonian’s collection of presidential portraits nor will you be able to see the Beaux-Arts style domed ceiling of the Library of Congress’ main reading room.

The Library of Congress, which attracts about 1.5 million visitors annually, closed in tandem with the government on Oct 1.

All Smithsonian museums, and its research centres and the National Zoo, have been closed since Oct 12 because of the shutdown.

The National Park Service, Smithsonian museums and numerous monuments depend on federal funding and staffing.

While you may still visit most parts of the Grand Canyon, it will be no walk in the park.

The US National Parks Conservation Association said on Oct 6 that visitor centres and toilets may be closed, drinking water may be turned off and rescue services may be delayed, after two-thirds of park staff were furloughed.

Other outdoor attractions such as monuments on the National Mall are open. Museums and sites that do not rely on federal funding, such as the National Building Museum and the National Museum of Women in the Arts, will continue to operate, said BBC.

Q: Can I still take public transport? Or has that been affected by the shutdown too?

A: Yes, you can still take public transport as Metrorail, Metrobus, Amtrak and other public transit services will continue to operate normally.

Q: What about cruises or sea transport?

A: Cruise holidays from US ports are largely unaffected. Coast Guard employees and border agents will continue to report to work, although many federal workers who support cruise ship operations are currently unpaid, said Euro News.

Q: If I fall sick while in the US, can I get medical help? What emergency services are affected by the shutdown?

A: Emergency services such as 911 dispatch will operate as normal, with hospitals and medical centres remaining open throughout the country, BBC reported.

If you plan to send letters or parcels back home, good news. The US Postal Service said on Sept 25 that it will not be affected by the shutdown because it is an independent entity funded through sales of its products and services and not by tax dollars.