Partial US government shutdown could mean airport delays, travel groups say

Major travel groups and airlines are pushing US lawmakers to reach a deal on government funding ahead of a partial shutdown, arguing it could lead to travel chaos during spring break.

In a joint statement, several groups, including Airlines for America, said no deal increases the risk of unscheduled absences by Transportation Security Administration workers, causing flight delays and longer wait times.

"Travelers and the US economy cannot afford to have essential TSA personnel working without pay," the groups said.

A partial government shutdown is set to begin at midnight (5:00 GMT) on Saturday after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

In exchange for a funding deal, Democrats had been pushing for more restrictions on US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which will not be significantly affected by the shutdown because of funding from the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" last year.

Democrats have been demanding reforms after federal agents in January killed Alex Pretti and Renee Good, two Minneapolis residents who were protesting the Trump administration's immigration raids in Minnesota.

They have asked for a number of changes within DHS, including a ban on immigration agents wearing face masks, better identification for officers and stricter rules for obtaining warrants.

On Thursday, Senate Democrats blocked two funding bills because the measures did not include the immigration reforms. The most recent funding measure passed at the end of January only funded DHS for two more weeks while lawmakers from both sides of the aisle attempted to reach a deal on immigration reforms.

On Friday, President Donald Trump said "we'll see what happens" when asked by reporters if he anticipated cutting a deal with Democrats to fund the DHS.

"We always have to protect our law enforcement," Trump added.

The shutdown is expected to affect several agencies under the DHS umbrella, including the Coast Guard and TSA.

Last year, the US government saw its longest full shut-down in history for 43 days, leading to many federal workers going without pay and flight chaos. Democrats at the time were pushing for more health care funding to address rising health care costs.

Congress is set to take a recess until 23 February, meaning the shutdown could continue until US President Donald Trump's State of the Union address the following day.

However, lawmakers could be called back to Washington earlier if they seem on the brink of a deal.

The partial shutdown involve as m is unlikely to cause as much travel chaos as last year's because the Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees air traffic controllers, has already been funded for the rest of the year.

But TSA agents - who fall under DHS - may have to go without pay if the shutdown drags on, meaning people could see longer lines at the airport if workers call in sick.

The Coast Guard, which DHS also oversees, could be affected. Vice Admiral Thomas Allan told lawmakers that going a few days without funding would mean no pay for about 56,000 workers, leading the agency to suspend missions that are not critical or lifesaving.

DHS has $165bn (£120bn) from Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act - which also included $75bn to fund ICE - that it could use to address some of the funding shortfalls.