11/13/2025

Government Reopens

However, flight delays may linger for days

After 43 days, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history has come to an end.

President Donald Trump signed legislation Wednesday night to reopen the federal government, following bipartisan agreement in Congress.

The bill funds the government immediately through January 30, with some departments—including Agriculture, Veterans Affairs and military construction—funded through September.

Why it matters: The shutdown had far-reaching effects across the economy, including significant disruption for association meetings, conferences and the broader travel industry. Roughly 1.2 million federal workers were impacted – either furloughed or working without pay – leading to ripple effects on air travel, tourism and event logistics nationwide.

During the shutdown, the Transportation Department implemented flight reductions of up to 6% at major airports including Cincinnati, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., due to staffing challenges among air traffic controllers. With the government now reopened, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is holding that cap in place as it assesses when normal operations can safely resume.

Aviation officials caution that recovery will take time. Airlines must rebalance schedules and reposition aircraft and crews, meaning delays and cancellations may continue in the short term.

Industry experts expect gradual normalization of flight operations ahead of the busy Thanksgiving travel period – welcome news for associations, meeting planners and travelers eager to get back on schedule.

This article was provided to OSAP by ASAE's Power of Associations and Inroads.