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Government Shutdown

Effective Oct. 1, 2025, a federal government shutdown is now in effect. Nashville International Airport® (BNA®) is preparing for a busy Fall Break travel season, and we want to keep our passengers informed about how a shutdown could affect federal agencies that play a critical role in aviation, including:

  • Department of Transportation (DOT)
  • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
  • Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
  • Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

At BNA, your safety and security remain our top priority. We are working closely with our federal partners to keep airport operations running smoothly and to support your travel experience.

It is imperative that the public understand that airports do not anticipate immediate impacts to day-to- day operations because most Federal workers at airports are considered exempt—or essential—and must report to work without pay. However, the economic impacts of a prolonged government shutdown can be substantial to local and regional communities who rely on the airport as an economic engine. U.S. airports produce $1.8 trillion in annual economic output.

Each federal department develops contingency plans in the event of a lapse in appropriations. However, the level of discretion granted to agency leaders during this shutdown is not yet clear. The information provided below reflects anticipated impacts based on prior shutdowns and existing federal plans. It does not yet account for any new measures that could be implemented during this period.

  • DOT/FAA: March 2025 contingency guidance here.
    • Anticipated exempt program/activities (funding comes from sources outside of annual appropriations, i.e. Airport and Airway Trust Fund):
      • Airport inspections
      • Existing airport development grants
      • Activities and personnel funded by Division J of IIJAPFC approvals
      • Airport planning and environmental services funded through AIP contract authority
      • ATC controller training at the Academy
    • Anticipated excepted programs/activities (essential—report for duty without pay):
      • Air traffic control services
      • Flight Standards field inspections
      • Maintenance and operation of NAVAIDS
      • On-call accident investigations
      • Airworthiness directives and aircraft/airman registry
    • Anticipated non-excepted programs/activities (non-essential— furloughed)
      • ATC controller hiring
      • Aviation rulemaking
      • Law enforcement assistance support
    • Programs with multi-year appropriations also continue: Essential Air Service, Build America Bureau TIFIA direct loans and guarantees, etc.
  • DHS/TSA/CBP: March 2025 contingency guidance here.
    • Anticipated exempt programs/activities:
      • TSA screening passengers and baggage
      • TSA vetting of applicants for or individuals renewing SIDA badges
      • Border security and technology (which could cover a variety of CBP programs and resource deployments)
    • Anticipated exempt personnel (essential—report for duty without pay):
      • FSDs, FAMS, TSOs, Canine Handlers, TSIs
      • Contractors who repair and maintain screening equipment
      • CBP officers at airports
    • Unknown non-excepted programs/activities (non-essential—furloughed):
      • FLETC training (i.e. training for new CBP officers)
    • Anticipated non-excepted programs/activities (non-essential— furloughed):
      • FLETC training (recurrent training and supervisory training)

 

  Federal Agency Contacts: