Besides Kristi Noem being a complete tool, expect more travel issues during the government shutdown besides delays.
It's been a while since I've written an op-ed (okay, rant), but it has been 14 days since the government shut down. So while it may take a bit for it to affect Americans, it has already shown up in my life in a few different ways (hi, SBA).
Besides air traffic controllers not getting paid, there are plane delays, and U.S. embassies across the world are also on limited operations. Most embassy staff is considered non-essential, except… do you know who processes an emergency passport when you've lost your passport abroad?
The embassy.
Passport and visa operations will continue as normal but given all of the embassy website notices worldwide, it is definitely concerning. The Trump administration seems to be using this to put certain embassies and consulates on the chopping block.
But in a worst case scenario if this keeps going? If the government and embassy is shut down, you are stranded if things go south.
Though a lot what embassies do revolve around processing visas, their main role is to provide U.S. citizens abroad assistance when they are on foreign soil. Embassies played a huge role in getting U.S. citizens back home during COVID, so this is an absolute nightmare that is just going to compound in unexpected ways.
I don't have a hard opinion about whether travel bloggers should stay out of politics. The truth is most of life is political. Business is political. Travel is inherently political. I mean, has anyone ever thought about where visa and immigration issues stem from?
As for Kristi Noem using the Department of Homeland Security to point fingers at Democrats?1 Cause, for every finger you point at someone, three fingers are pointing back at you.
