Holiday Travel Chaos Looms Amid Government Shutdown

With the government shutdown showing no signs of resolution, Vice President JD Vance cautioned on Thursday against a potential travel catastrophe during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday if the impasse persists. Vance emphasized the urgency for Democrats to rally votes to end the shutdown.

Following discussions with key figures from American Airlines and United Airlines, as well as aviation unions and officials, Vance highlighted that a prolonged shutdown would strain the fragile industry. "It could be a disaster," he stated, referring to the risk of increased employee absences and subsequent travel disruptions, as workers miss multiple paychecks.

The aviation sector, already grappling with staff shortages, sees thousands of air traffic controllers and TSA officers working without pay amid the ongoing shutdown. Airlines are pressing lawmakers to approve a stop-gap funding bill to ensure safety and mitigate risks posed by the shutdown.