• A government shutdown could affect air travel and lead to lengthy delays.
• Essential federal workers will continue working without pay during the shutdown.
• Social services like WIC may be disrupted, impacting vulnerable populations.
• Passport processing times may increase due to reduced staff.
• Federal lands and national parks face potential closures or staffing shortages.

A potential U.S. government shutdown set to begin at 12:01 a.m. on October 1, 2025, could have widespread repercussions for travel and federal services. While many federal employees continue to work as "essential workers," including those in the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and air traffic controllers, they will be doing so without pay. A past shutdown showed that such conditions can lead to increased "sick-outs" among these employees, resulting in longer wait times at airport security and flight delays, according to CBS News and BBC.

Travelers aiming to fly domestically and internationally may experience heightened inconvenience due to a government shutdown. Past incidents have shown that airport security lines can become dangerously long, as the TSA has experienced a 10% call-in sick rate in previous shutdowns, according to CBS News and NPR. U.S. passport agencies will remain operational, but processing times are expected to slow due to furloughed employees, which travelers should account for when planning trips, as reported by BBC.

If the shutdown exceeds a week, services like the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) may rapidly run low on funds, according to NPR. This could severely impact families reliant on this program, while the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) might also face disruptions in the longer term. The implications of lost funding are a grave concern, particularly for vulnerable populations, as highlighted by the National WIC Association, as noted by NPR and BBC.

Federal employee impacts will be profound, with about 800,000 workers facing unpaid leave during the shutdown. Historically, many of these employees have sought second jobs during similar situations, as reported by BBC and NPR. Additionally, the shutdown could lead to mass layoffs, complicating matters for families who rely on these incomes to meet day-to-day expenses. Although federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid will continue, patients might experience delays in processing and services, as indicated by BBC.

The fate of national parks remains uncertain during the shutdown, with previous occurrences resulting in parks remaining open but understaffed. Such conditions have historically led to vandalism and neglect, prompting over 40 former park superintendents to express their concerns regarding the lack of oversight in these natural spaces. Organizations advocate for complete closures rather than risk damaging public lands due to insufficient staff, according to NPR and BBC.

In the event of a shutdown, other services such as the United States Postal Service (USPS) are expected to operate without interruption, as it does not rely on congressional funding. However, larger implications for federal funding, particularly for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), could lead to delays in disaster relief efforts, according to CBS News and NPR.