If the government shuts down on Monday night, travel could take a hit, particularly when it comes to leisure travel. Tourists would be turned away from certain parks and museums, but not all travel will be impacted.
A government shutdown could occur at midnight on Monday if Congress fails to reach an agreement, the Associated Press reports.
Air travel would not necessarily be impacted as federal air traffic controllers would continue to remain on the job and airport screeners will continue to get passengers through security checkpoints. Federal inspectors would also continue to enforce safety rules.
Paperwork for international travel should not be impacted as the State Department will continue to process foreign applications for visas and U.S. applications for passports as fees are charged which pay for those services.
However some of these services may be delayed. Overseas embassies and consulates will also continue to provide services to American citizens.
Leisure travel will take a hit. All national parks would be closed as well as Smithsonian museums, which includes the National Zoo in Washington. There are 348 National Park Service sites in total which will affect millions of visitors. Visitors who are using overnight campgrounds or other park areas will have 48 hours to make other arrangements and will have to leave the park.
The last time the government shut down temporarily in the mid-1990's, roughly 9 million people were turned away from parks, museums and monuments run by the National Park Service.
Closures will also include visitor centers for popular tourist hotspots such as he Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in New York, Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Alcatraz Island near San Francisco and the Washington Monument.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
