How the closure of the US government affects travel plans

(CNN) – The partial closure of the US government raises all sorts of questions for travelers on topics ranging from aviation safety to passports and national parks.

Here are the things:

Many national parks are open, without facilities

Although National Park Service sites have been closed across the country in previous years government closures, many remained open initially under the Trump government.

As closure continues, closures are more likely.

Many park sites had to be restricted in some areas due to closure.

"For most parks, there will be no visitors provided by the National Park Service services such as toilets, garbage collection, facilities or road maintenance," said Jeremy Barnum, spokesperson for the National Parks Service. Some services may be provided by dealers or other entities, he said.

Nearly 331 million people visited the National Park Service sites in the United States in 2017. Letting millions of people visit the parks without the help of rangers will damage them, said L & # 8239; former director of the NPS. Jonathan Jarvis.

Joshua Tree National Park, California, had Wednesday closed its popular campgrounds because of health and safety issues related to the presence of virtually saturated pit toilets.

Many national parks regularly close sections to visitors (or their cars) during the snowy winter months, including Mariposa Grove in Grand Canyon National Park and Yosemite National Park.

The National Parks Service has signed more than 40 agreements with these entities to provide various visitor services, including garbage removal and toilet maintenance, in a number of national parks, said NPS spokesman Barnum. The validity period of these agreements varies according to the sites.

While some visitors enjoy free admission to national parks, only 27% of the 418 park service sites are paid.

Closure of Smithsonian Museums and the National Zoo

The 19 Smithsonian Museums and the Washington National Zoo closed on Wednesday as the partial closure of the government entered its twelfth day. 19659003] "Due to the closure of the federal government, all Smithsonian museums and the national zoo are closed," the Smithsonian Institution said in a statement released on Wednesday. Programming and events have also been canceled.

In addition to the national zoo grounds closed to the public, his live animal cameras, including the famous panda cam, will not work during the shutdown, the statement said. 19659003] The national zoo will continue to feed and care for animals during the stalemate. "A closure will not affect the zoo's commitment to staff safety and the standard of excellence in animal care," the statement said.

The airspace is operational, the union provides for delays

Although a union representing aviation security workers warns about possible travel delays, air traffic is still buzzing.

"The country's airspace is totally safe and operational, and air traffic controllers and maintenance technicians continue to work without pay, while fulfilling a crucial mission to ensure public safety, "said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Gregory Martin.

However, other activities of the agency have been reduced, including training of air traffic controllers and accident investigations.

The FAA closed its training academy in Oklahoma City during the partial closure.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, a union representing FAA air traffic controllers and other aviation security officers, says closure could worsen staff shortages stationed in the air traffic controllers.

The airspace system and closure will certainly worsen the situation, "said NATCA President Paul Rinaldi in a statement." Even before closure, the controllers had to work longer and harder. to compensate for the lack of personnel. "

An aggravated personnel situation would reduce the capacity of the airspace system, Rinaldi added, resulting in more flight delays. [19659003] FAA Martin said that the agency was meeting the targets set for its 10-year plan for recruitment of air traffic controllers and that it would not speculate on the potential consequences of a slowdown in training if [19659003] The accident investigation conducted by FAA personnel is currently limited to "essential activities," Mr. Martin said. [196590] 03] These are "activities that protect persons and property and in which it is reasonably likely that one or both persons will be significantly compromised by the delay in the exercise of the office of attorney, "he said. not sent to a weekend accident in Saginaw County, Michigan, resulting in a death due to lack of resources. The FAA shares responsibility for accident investigation with the National Transportation Safety Board.

"Early indications suggest that operational factors may have contributed to this accident and that there is currently no significant risk to transportation safety," Martin said of the incident.

"Although the sheriff raised security concerns at the scene of the accident, the wreckage was found and transferred to a secure rescue facility for further investigation after the return of the investigators" , did he declare.

levels

"What we learned in bulk It's just to stay focused on the mission, take it one day at a time, and I can not say enough about the professionalism and dedication of the TSA staff," said Bilello.

Passports and visas still in process

In a notice made public at the beginning of the closure, the Office of Consular Affairs stated that "passport and visa services programmed in the United States and in our US embassies and consulates abroad will be maintained as long as the credits are exhausted, as far as the situation permits "

An official from the US Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. US state said that "the facilities will remain open as long as sufficient fees to support operations."

National passport agencies located in government buildings affected by over-spending could be closed to the public, said the official .

Calls and inquiries will always be accepted by the National Visa Center. , National Passport Information Center and Kentucky Consular Center, reported the notice to the Bureau of Consular Affairs.

The office's website will not be updated, except for urgent security information, the note said.

CNN's Devan Cole contributed to this report. [ad_2]
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