Travelers beware: US government furloughs threatened again
The threat of a government shutdown goes on as the divided US Congress haggles over a new budget.
Travelers could get caught in the partisan crosshairs as early as Tuesday, October 1, the beginning of the federal fiscal year.
More than a third of federal workers would be told to stay home if Congress fails to approve a temporary spending bill to keep the government running.
That would force the closure of national parks, all 19 Smithsonian museums in Washington, and US consulates around the world.
Details about shutdown plans for each agency will be posted on the OMB and individual agency websites by Friday afternoon. Formal furlough notices would be sent on Tuesday.
"Fifty percent of our members may be locked out of work altogether during this shutdown," said J. David Cox Sr., president of the American Federation of Government Employees.
The last shutdown, in 1995, lasted three weeks.
During that period, more than 200,000 U.S. applications for passports and 20,000 visa applications by prospective visitors went unprocessed each day.
Cheryl
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive