The United States Federal Government has intentionally failed to renew government funds in time for the start of the new fiscal year in order to come up with the money for the Affordable Care Act, which has resulted in a Government Shutdown. We know what this shutdown may do to the IRS, Medicare, Social Security, CDC, & Federal Loans, but what does this mean for traveling in or to the United States in general?
Well for one, if you’re hoping to take an escorted tour of the National Parks, visit Independence Hall in Philadelphia, enjoy the Statue of Liberty in New York, or even buy tickets to the Smithsonian Museum or National Zoo to gawk at the newborn panda cub, you may want to place those plans on the back burner for now… In case you didn’t know, Federal employees manage and operate these attractions, which are funded by our Federal Government, which will more than likely shut down.
For those that have tours that are scheduled to travel to the U.S. National Parks, major tour companies such as Trafalgar tours and Globus tours have already stated that as of now, trips through October 5th, 2013 will operate as scheduled, but should this situation continue, any trips after that date that include the National Parks or other impacted monument visit is being modified to provide guests with an alternative experience. I am not sure how you can replace the beauty of the National Parks with other experiences. Don’t expect a refund, as itineraries are always subject to change, but perhaps your travel agent can assist you in obtaining a future travel credit if you wish to postpone your trip, however keep in mind there will be airline penalties incurred to rebook your flights.
But let’s not stop there… What if you’ve already paid for your tour, vacation, or cruise, and require a passport, which you’ll need to travel abroad or sail through International waters? Technically, outside of annual appropriations, passports & visas are partly financed by application fees, which would funnel money for operations should appropriations be halted due to the shutdown; however, it’s important to expect delays. BUT, here’s the stinker… If a passport or Visa office is located inside a federal building during a government shutdown, more than likely your passport or visa will go unprocessed. Therefore, make sure that the passport or visa service you’re using is not mailing your renewal or new passport application to a federal building.
How far does the LONG arm of the United States Federal Government stretch? Try the Normandy American Cemetery in France and 23 other overseas cemeteries. That’s right… The American Battle Monuments Commission, which operates and maintains 24 permanent American burial grounds located on foreign soils, will be closed for the duration of the shutdown.
Here’s the good news or what will NOT be affected:
Airports
Air Traffic Control
Cruise Ports, and…
Amtrak
Border Patrol
