Federal shutdown could disrupt travel as agencies furlough staff

The federal government shutdown that began at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday after Congress failed to pass a funding measure is expected to have limited immediate effects on travel but could cause mounting disruptions if it continues, officials and industry representatives said. Flights will operate and ports of entry will remain open, but many federal employees will be furloughed and essential workers required to remain on duty will work without pay, a dynamic that has in past shutdowns produced staffing shortages and delays.

Air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration officers are designated essential and will continue staffing control towers and security checkpoints, according to agency contingency plans. The Department of Transportation’s plans indicate roughly 13,000 controllers will remain on the job, and a Department of Homeland Security contingency plan shows about 61,000 TSA officers are expected to be exempt from furlough. At the same time, the Federal Aviation Administration is planning to furlough about a quarter of its roughly 45,000 employees, which will suspend activities such as some safety oversight, rulemaking and parts of controller training and...