crs_reports: R49491

Congressional Research Service reports with summaries, authors, and topic classifications.

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R49491 Federal Government Shutdowns and the Impact on Civil Aviation 2026-10-22T04:00:00Z 2026-10-24T05:08:55Z Active Reports Rachel Y. Tang, Bart Elias   When federal agencies and programs do not receive funding after full-year or interim appropriations expire, they experience a “funding gap.” If funding does not resume in time to continue government operations, the government generally begins a “shutdown” of affected activities. Shutdowns can be government-wide or partial (i.e., affecting certain federal agencies and programs) depending on which appropriations lapse. The federal government plays a key role in operating the National Airspace System, providing air traffic control and air navigation services, and conducting aviation security operations at the nation’s airports. Shutdowns can affect some civil aviation programs that are administered by the Department of Transportation (DOT), mostly those managed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as well as aviation security functions carried out by other federal entities, particularly the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Shutdowns over the past decade have been lengthier than those during previous lapses in appropriations and have directly impacted civil aviation operations. Federal workers who perform functions integral to these civil aviation operations are generally excepted from furlough during shutdowns. These workers typically are not paid during a shutdown, which has demonstrated impacts on absenteeism and resignations, potentially affecting the federal government’s ability to provide full aviation services without disruption or degradation. Quantifiable indicators of these impacts include increased flight delays and cancellations, extended wait times at airport security checkpoints, temporary FAA-mandated flight reductions at major U.S. airports, and forgone revenues for airlines, airports, and related businesses. Some Members of Congress introduced bills that would have ensured the continuation of aviation operations until funding through normal appropriations was restored during the lapses in FY2026. Some of those bills in the 119th Congress focused on the use of continuing appropriations to pay essential government workers or, specifically, essential FAA and TSA personnel during shutdowns; others proposed to establish certain types of automatic continuing resolutions that would provide a fallback funding source for core aviation safety operations in the event of future funding gaps. Other bills seek a more permanent solution for aviation security functions. For example, the Pay TSA Act of 2026 (H.R. 7941) proposes the creation of a dedicated trust fund that would be funded by passenger security fees and available to expend during a lapse in appropriations. Language in H.R. 7941 expressly prioritizes the use of money in the fund during a shutdown for salaries, benefits, and overtime compensation for TSA screeners; maintenance of staffing levels at aviation security screening checkpoints; and other operational expenses directly supporting frontline aviation security personnel. Some Members may wish to leave in place the balance between the continuation of government services and the congressional power of the purse that exists during a shutdown.   https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/R/HTML/R49491.html

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