Port of Seattle facilities including Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and cruise terminals will maintain full operations if a federal government shutdown begins October 1, though federal workers will go unpaid during the closure.
“Big thing here at SEA, and actually all the port maritime facilities, is we are still open,” said SEA Airport spokesperson Perry Cooper. “Most of the federal workers here, especially with the airport, are going to be considered essential workers. So they’ll still be here working.”
Essential federal employees at the airport will continue working without paychecks during any shutdown period.
Cooper advised travelers to arrive two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights, allowing time for parking, transit, check-in, and security screening. The airport’s Spot Saver program, which allows passengers to reserve security screening times, will continue operating.
“So even though we’re outside of the busy summer season, still think of it that way as you come to the airport,” Cooper said.
Port of Seattle Commission Vice President Ryan Calkins called for congressional action to prevent disruption. “The Port of Seattle urges Congress to find a bipartisan solution to avoid or minimize any shutdown of the federal government and to retain the federal workforce necessary to keep trade and travel running smoothly,” Calkins stated. “Our facilities will remain operational during any shutdown, but many of our federal partners will be working without pay.”
During the 2018-2019 government shutdown, the port partnered with community organizations to provide food, supplies, and resources to unpaid workers. Community members volunteered assistance, with some delivering home-cooked meals to airport staff.
“We saw a lot of people that were trying to find ways in which they wanted to recognize the work that was being done here, even to the point where we had people come into the arrivals drive with things that they had cooked at home, and say, ‘Hey, we want to donate this to people so they’ve got some lunch,'” Cooper recalled.
The potential shutdown highlights the impact of federal budget disputes on essential transportation workers who maintain airport security and customs operations despite payment interruptions.
