Airlines and travelers brace for potential government shutdown impact

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

Congress is preparing to leave Washington, D.C., with the federal government poised to shut down at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, potentially forcing many federal employees, including Coast Guard, Federal Emergency Management Agency and Transportation Security Administration workers, to work without pay.

President Donald Trump said, "We'll see what happens. We always have to protect our law enforcement. It's very important," indicating a wait-and-see approach as TSA agents prepare to work without pay.

Michelle Price, a traveler, expressed hope that the situation would be resolved without issues.

"Hopefully they can get it worked out, and there are no issues," she said.

Her husband, Bob Price, shared concerns about potential delays, saying, "We have a flight in a couple of weeks; we hope it doesn't go that long."

The last government shutdown lasted a record 43 days, and Michelle Price remains hopeful for a smooth journey home.

"I'm hopeful we won't have any delays on our way home," she said.

Airlines warn that unscheduled absences and call-outs by TSA could lead to higher wait times and delayed flights for families like Stephanie Soto's.

Soto, who is visiting Fort Myers, said, "I think a couple more days in Florida would not be the worst idea."

However, her children expressed mixed feelings about returning to school, indicating potential problems if the shutdown persists.

During the previous shutdown, TSA agents went five weeks without a paycheck. Groups like the Community Cooperative are prepared to assist families impacted by the situation.

Janelle Olson from Community Cooperative said, "If TSA needs us to come in and help support those workers, we're here for that."

The stalemate centers on immigration, with Democrats advocating for agents to be unmasked and follow stricter guidelines. While all flights at RSW are on time Friday, many travelers worry that another government shutdown could lead to delays.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.