As the threat of a federal government shutdown looms, various national associations are voicing their concerns about the potential negative impacts on their respective industries and the people they represent.
The Republican party is attempting to pass a seven-week spending bill to keep the government funded, but they are facing resistance from Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
According to Breitbart News, the U.S. Travel Association has issued a plea to Congress to prevent a shutdown, as government funding is set to expire on October 1. A spokesperson for the association, which represents all sectors of the $1.3 trillion U.S. travel industry, warned that a shutdown would be a "wholly preventable blow to Americas travel economycosting $1 billion every weekand affecting millions of travelers and businesses while placing unnecessary strain on an already overextended federal travel workforce.
The association further highlighted the immediate and severe consequences of a shutdown, including exacerbating staffing shortages among Transportation Security Administration officers and air traffic controllers, leading to longer airport security lines, flight delays, and cancellations. The statement also pointed out that a shutdown would halt the hiring and training of new air traffic controllers, adding further delays even after funding is restored.
The U.S. Travel Association also drew attention to the impact on travelers and communities due to the closure or neglect of National Parks and federally owned museums and attractions, diminished visitor experiences, and the erosion of vital infrastructure that sustains local economies across the country. The statement concluded by urging Congress to act responsibly and keep the government funded.
The National Association of Builders has expressed support for the House-passed bill to fund the government, H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026. However, this bill was rejected in the Senate by Schumer and the Democrats, with the exception of Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA).
The Association of Mature American Citizens Action, the advocacy affiliate of the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC), is another organization calling for the passage of a clean continuing resolution to fund the government. The group warned that a government shutdown would jeopardize critical services that seniors rely on, such as Social Security offices, Medicare assistance, veterans benefits, and health programs.
AMAC criticized the demands being made by Democrat leaders to keep the government open, labeling them as "unpopular and unreasonable."
The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) Vice President and ATA Action Executive Director Kyle Zebley urged lawmakers not to leave millions of patients and beleaguered healthcare providers in the lurch while they deliberate over dynamics around a government shutdown. He also detailed the consequences that Medicare beneficiaries will face under a shutdown, including the cessation of reimbursement for telehealth visits and major disruption to critical programs like the Acute Hospital Care at Home program.
Other organizations, including the Independent Womens Voice (IWV), Parents Defending Education, and CURE, are also calling on lawmakers to fund the government and avoid a shutdown. IWV emphasized the importance of a clean continuing resolution in keeping the government running and preventing disruptions to national security, public safety, veterans care, and social safety net programs.
Parents Defending Education called for bipartisanship in keeping the government open, while CURE lauded House Republicans for their passage of a CR out of the lower chamber and urged the Senate to do the same.
As the deadline for government funding approaches, these organizations are united in their call for Congress to act swiftly and responsibly to prevent a shutdown. The potential impact on various sectors of the economy, as well as on millions of Americans, underscores the urgency of their pleas. It remains to be seen whether lawmakers will heed these warnings and take the necessary steps to keep the government funded.
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