Government Shutdown?

[fabby50]

Haven't seen anything on this yet and I was wondering if anyone knows how a government shutdown would affect port authorities?  I wasn't cruising the last time we went through this and we're supposed to sail this Friday.  Did anyone here cruise during the last shutdown?

 

Thanks!

[Nelsj099]

I have an aunt who works for the government in law enforcement.  She said they still had to work and didn’t get paid.  They got back pay when the government was refunded and started running again.

[beerman2]

Already been in the news that TSA will be in operation as well as Customs officials.

[fshagan]

44 minutes ago, beerman2 said:

Already been in the news that TSA will be in operation as well as Customs officials.

 

I think about a third of the government was already funded in "regular order". That's the way it used to be done every year, with each appropriation bill covering departments voted on in the regular session and not held for an "omnibus spending bill" that allows the pols to hold the country hostage for their goals. I've heard the military is fully funded (which means the Coast Guard is on duty) and most of the other law enforcement agencies. So I don't think there should be any impact on cruisers.

 

[Homosassa]

The TSA and ICE may be funded, but keep in mind that some functions of those agencies may have had cutbacks in budget and personnel.

 

Also, as a now retired career employee of a necessary and funded agency, my experience has been that in any shutdown, even a agency deemed necessary and funded,  will plan on cutting back on personnel reporting for duty during the shutdown. 

 

If a shutdown occurs, I would expect to have a lower number of TSA and Immigration and Custom agents on duty with much longer lines and delays.

 

Plan accordingly.

[fabby50]

Thanks for the input!  My husband and I both work for the Navy and we were both sent home last time.  There was a lot of confusion.

[JamieLogical]

It's my understanding that in a shutdown, all port/immigration/security-type agencies keep running. The main effect that I think a government shut down is likely to have on a cruise is that US National Parks will be closed.

Edited December 17, 2018 by JamieLogical

[Arzeena]

12 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

It's my understanding that in a shutdown, all port/immigration/security-type agencies keep running. The main effect that I think a government shut down is likely to have on a cruise is that US National Parks will be closed.

 

Staff is very thin, but it does not close completely. We have traveled during one of those.

[Homosassa]

1 hour ago, JamieLogical said:

It's my understanding that in a shutdown, all port/immigration/security-type agencies keep running. The main effect that I think a government shut down is likely to have on a cruise is that US National Parks will be closed.

 

While one can try and be logical, inexperience can influence the conclusion. Please see posts # 5,6 and 8.

[YVRBassElectric]

We were on a cruise in 2013 when the US government shut down - my biggest memory of that cruise was the storm that shut the Port of Astoria. Our disembarkation was LA, we haven't had great luck with that Port, I don't remember it being any worse than our other visits.

 

This wouldn't be a great time to have a tight connection from/to flight & cruise

[Laszlo]

TSA will be working, and they are going to be in a pissed off mood. Their is no guarantee furloughed workers will be paid. A friend of mine works for the CDC in Atlanta, this is a person with a PhD. She has been warned she might have to help out at Atlanta if regular TSA workers are thin

Edited December 17, 2018 by Laszlo

[BirdTravels]

1 minute ago, Laszlo said:

TSA will be working, and they are going to be in a pissed off mood. Their is no guarantee furloughed workers will be paid

The government has always paid their employees. Even those non-essential employees who sit at home sipping coffee during the shutdown. 

[pieshops]

1 minute ago, BirdTravels said:

The government has always paid their employees. Even those non-essential employees who sit at home sipping coffee during the shutdown. 

I have always though that term is so crazy - non essential - if they were so non essential then why do we pay them, I dont have any non essential employees in my business lol

[goin-away]

News says that Park Service will keep many parks open but no facilities open. So good chance that Liberty Island in NY harbor will be closed like last time.

[zqvol]

If there is any impact it would be that fewer agents were working and things might be a little bit slower, other than something like that there will be no impact on cruising.

[Esther1]

12 hours ago, fabby50 said:

Haven't seen anything on this yet and I was wondering if anyone knows how a government shutdown would affect port authorities?  I wasn't cruising the last time we went through this and we're supposed to sail this Friday.  Did anyone here cruise during the last shutdown?

 

Thanks!

I'm with you, Fabby50,

We are cruising this Friday as well. If Congress fails to provide border security and a shutdown becomes necessary, I am confident that the impact on our cruise sailings truly will be minimal.  What I worry about is crew switchouts. We recently boarded a ship with a scheduled crew switchout on embarkation day which delayed passenger boarding for several hours, but in retrospect it did not impact our enjoyment of that wonderful cruise.

Happy cruising,

Esther

[beerman2]

Unfortunately travelers will be inconvenienced by slower lines at airports and customs.

Thankfully I do fly in the day before and not one to take that 11:00 a.m. Flight home.

"Patience is a Virtue" will be a prominent theme for those traveling during shutdown.

 

Now its has me thinking what time will I need to be at the airport for a 7:10 a.m. Departure ???? Especially being it's 2 days after New Years.

 

[BirdTravels]

9 minutes ago, beerman2 said:

Unfortunately travelers will be inconvenienced by slower lines at airports and customs.

Thankfully I do fly in the day before and not one to take that 11:00 a.m. Flight home.

"Patience is a Virtue" will be a prominent theme for those traveling during shutdown.

 

Now its has me thinking what time will I need to be at the airport for a 7:10 a.m. Departure ???? Especially being it's 2 days after New Years.

 

If the TSA and FAA are considered essential employees, they why would they be any impact?

[BDRebel]

As was previously stated, all government enforcement personnel will be on duty as if on a normal basis.

The only difference will be that the administrative staff will be at home rather than at work.

Port operations will not be changed. If you are applying for benefits (such as TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, etc) then there may be a delay.

In the past, the workers got paid, and pretty much on time.

[Homosassa]

13 hours ago, pieshops said:

I have always though that term is so crazy - non essential - if they were so non essential then why do we pay them, I dont have any non essential employees in my business lol

 

Perhaps we really need a true government shut down. That would mean all federal employees. 

 

Just think, no social security  or military  and  civil service pension checks. No air traffic controllers (certainly would mean that the TSA wouldn't need to work). 

 

Case of food poisoning? Contaminated drugs? You are on your own.

 

The list could go on and on. 

 

And, yes, when there is a shut down, all the employees do get paid for being at home. Truly an example of temporary government employees (i.e.; blustering elected officials) wasting our money to make a self serving statement.

 

If it ever happened, maybe everyone would actually realized why using federal employees as a political football is a truly bad idea.

 

 

 

 

[beerman2]

Ok Bird and BR

It IS still possible they will/can operate with LESS TSA and  Customs agents.

What they are saying MAY not necessarily be what actually happens.

 

What I’m saying is better to be prepared.

Point is WE DON’T know exactly.

[Zach1213]

1 hour ago, beerman2 said:

Unfortunately travelers will be inconvenienced by slower lines at airports and customs.

Thankfully I do fly in the day before and not one to take that 11:00 a.m. Flight home.

"Patience is a Virtue" will be a prominent theme for those traveling during shutdown.

 

Now its has me thinking what time will I need to be at the airport for a 7:10 a.m. Departure ???? Especially being it's 2 days after New Years.

 

 

In my experience, having gone through both airport security AND immigration during a government shut down multiple times in 2013, it's business as usual. I didn't notice any difference in staffing or speed.

[navybankerteacher]

23 hours ago, Nelsj099 said:

I have an aunt who works for the government in law enforcement.  She said they still had to work and didn’t get paid.  They got back pay when the government was refunded and started running again.

 

Very few government workers get paid every day. It is usually either weekly or semi-monthly.  Because most shutdowns just last a few days, there is usually no delay in government workers getting their pay.  Even if there is a delay, it is made up shortly after the thing is resolved.

 

It just makes for more dramatic reporting to say that they will be going unpaid.

[BDRebel]

1 hour ago, beerman2 said:

Ok Bird and BR

It IS still possible they will/can operate with LESS TSA and  Customs agents.

What they are saying MAY not necessarily be what actually happens.

 

What I’m saying is better to be prepared.

Point is WE DON’T know exactly.

Anything is possible.

It is possible for pigs to sprout wings and fly, but it is extremely unlikely.

Certain jobs within the government are considered essential, and therefore those doing those jobs will be ordered to report for work. This includes law enforcement, including Customs and TSA, as well as Coast Guard, Military and Post Office. (front-line workers only. The support.administrative staffs will likely be furloughed). Travel will likely not be affected, unless you were going to a National Park (these will likely be closed).

 

[SRF]

On 12/17/2018 at 11:19 AM, fshagan said:

 

I think about a third of the government was already funded in "regular order". That's the way it used to be done every year, with each appropriation bill covering departments voted on in the regular session and not held for an "omnibus spending bill" that allows the pols to hold the country hostage for their goals. I've heard the military is fully funded (which means the Coast Guard is on duty) and most of the other law enforcement agencies. So I don't think there should be any impact on cruisers.

 

 

You do know that Cast Guard is not part of DOD?  Therefore not really military?

 

They are part of DHS.