Citing “43 days of chaos” that resulted in more than $6 billion in lost travel spending and unnecessary pain for travellers and federal workers, U.S. Travel blasted Congress for its “self-inflicted crisis” and “foolish path” in sustaining the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
“All government shutdowns are irresponsible – period,” U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman said in a statement. “They jeopardize essential services, erode public confidence and inflict needless economic pain. If Congress ever goes down this foolish path again, essential federal workers – like air traffic controllers and TSA agents – must be paid without interruption. America cannot afford another self-inflicted crisis that threatens the systems millions rely on every day.”
Freeman added that though the funding resolution restores stability to the people and systems that keep travel moving – it must also drive long-term change.
“Congress should invest in the modern infrastructure, technology and workforce needed to keep America moving forward,” he said.
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