Thanksgiving is just around the corner—but a deal to end the government shutdown doesn’t seem to be. With no end in sight, the effects keep piling up. From delays in SNAP benefits to federal employees working without pay, and now disruptions to air travel, HCC students may have more to worry about this holiday season than just final exams.
What exactly is going on? On October 1, 2025, the federal government ground to a halt after Congress failed to approve funding for the 2026 fiscal year. The stall began when Democratic senators refused to back a funding bill that left out an extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits—subsidies that help millions of Americans afford health insurance. With neither side willing to budge, the impasse has now stretched into the longest shutdown in U.S. history, surpassing the 35-day record.
On Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that air-traffic capacity would be reduced by roughly 10 percent across 40 of the nation’s busiest airports, citing staffing shortages caused by the ongoing shutdown. According to The Associated Press, many air‑traffic controllers have been working overtime without pay, pushing the system to its threshold.
While the FAA hasn’t released a list of affected airports, both George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) and William P. Hobby (HOU) are among the agency’s busiest hubs, and local reporting suggests they are likely to be impacted. In fact, The Houston Chronicle has already reported staffing-related ground stops and longer waits at both airports as the shutdown persists. The Texas Tribune also noted extended security lines and flight delays across major Texas airports, with Houston among the hardest hits.
So, for HCC students hoping to travel in the coming weeks, the shutdown isn’t just political drama, it’s personal. Flights might be delayed, finals are still looming, and holiday travel could test even the calmest among us. Pack extra patience, check your flight status, and maybe download a few more movies to your Netflix offline cache—because this Thanksgiving, the turbulence isn’t just in the air.
