Americans are gearing up for Thanksgiving on November 27, but this year the turkey might not be the only thing getting carved up — your wallet could take a hit, too. Rising prices mean the holiday feast may feel a little less like a celebration and a little more like a financial endurance test.
The US shutdown has dragged on for 38 days, not only making it the longest deadlock, but also affecting several Americans.
From food to air, this thanksgiving, people would witness several problems and they are as follows:
Flights cancelled, delayed
Thanksgiving is typically one of the busiest travel periods of the year, with airports seeing peak passenger traffic. Last year, the Sunday after Thanksgiving set a record with over 3 million travelers screened by the TSA.
But this year’s holiday travel may face severe disruptions due to the ongoing government shutdown — now the longest in U.S. history. Unlike the 2018 shutdown, which began shortly before Christmas, this one will have stretched more than eight weeks by Thanksgiving, leaving air traffic controllers and TSA agents working without pay. Aviation experts warn that financial strain and fatigue could lead to higher call-outs, resulting in more delays and cancellations, NPR reported.
Such disruptions tend to ripple across the aviation system, creating a domino effect that can take days or weeks to unwind. Even if the government reopens shortly before the holiday, experts caution that operations may not stabilize quickly. Many flights already run at near-full capacity, making rebooking difficult, while some air traffic controllers may require retraining before returning to duty.
Despite this, travel experts advise passengers not to abandon Thanksgiving plans but to book flexible fares, choose nonstop routes, and arrive early. Safety remains intact, they say — but convenience may suffer.
Millions face food stamp cuts
As Thanksgiving approaches, millions of Americans are bracing for the possibility of going without food, as a political deadlock in Washington threatens to freeze next month’s SNAP benefits . The standoff puts 42 million people at the intersection of partisan gridlock and an increasingly uncertain dinner table.
Although, the judge had ordered to give full payment of SNAP benefits but you don't know the future.
If the shutdown continues then, 42 million Americans, forget about the Turkeys, but would be also struggling to even get a fine food on the table.
Military families are already seeking additional assistance from food banks and other groups to help with paying bills.
Grocery prices may go up
Food prices across the Washington, D.C. region are currently showing stability ahead of the holiday season, according to DC News Now’s Grocery Price Check.
The monthly review, which compares costs of ten staple items at Walmart, Giant, and Safeway, found that many prices—such as wheat bread, broccoli, and chicken breast value packs—remained unchanged from last month. Some items even saw modest price drops, including brown eggs at Walmart and Giant, and brown rice at Giant, DC news reported.
However, experts caution that this relative stability could be short-lived if the ongoing federal government shutdown continues.
Logistics consultant Matt Lekstutis warns that reduced staffing at key federal agencies, including the FDA and EPA, could slow essential processing and shipping operations. Such disruptions may drive food prices up by 10% to 20% in the coming weeks. For now, grocery costs remain steady, but prolonged shutdown-related delays could quickly push prices higher across the region.
The US shutdown has dragged on for 38 days, not only making it the longest deadlock, but also affecting several Americans.
From food to air, this thanksgiving, people would witness several problems and they are as follows:
Flights cancelled, delayed
Thanksgiving is typically one of the busiest travel periods of the year, with airports seeing peak passenger traffic. Last year, the Sunday after Thanksgiving set a record with over 3 million travelers screened by the TSA.
But this year’s holiday travel may face severe disruptions due to the ongoing government shutdown — now the longest in U.S. history. Unlike the 2018 shutdown, which began shortly before Christmas, this one will have stretched more than eight weeks by Thanksgiving, leaving air traffic controllers and TSA agents working without pay. Aviation experts warn that financial strain and fatigue could lead to higher call-outs, resulting in more delays and cancellations, NPR reported.
Such disruptions tend to ripple across the aviation system, creating a domino effect that can take days or weeks to unwind. Even if the government reopens shortly before the holiday, experts caution that operations may not stabilize quickly. Many flights already run at near-full capacity, making rebooking difficult, while some air traffic controllers may require retraining before returning to duty.
Despite this, travel experts advise passengers not to abandon Thanksgiving plans but to book flexible fares, choose nonstop routes, and arrive early. Safety remains intact, they say — but convenience may suffer.
Millions face food stamp cuts
As Thanksgiving approaches, millions of Americans are bracing for the possibility of going without food, as a political deadlock in Washington threatens to freeze next month’s SNAP benefits . The standoff puts 42 million people at the intersection of partisan gridlock and an increasingly uncertain dinner table.
Although, the judge had ordered to give full payment of SNAP benefits but you don't know the future.
If the shutdown continues then, 42 million Americans, forget about the Turkeys, but would be also struggling to even get a fine food on the table.
Military families are already seeking additional assistance from food banks and other groups to help with paying bills.
Grocery prices may go up
Food prices across the Washington, D.C. region are currently showing stability ahead of the holiday season, according to DC News Now’s Grocery Price Check.
The monthly review, which compares costs of ten staple items at Walmart, Giant, and Safeway, found that many prices—such as wheat bread, broccoli, and chicken breast value packs—remained unchanged from last month. Some items even saw modest price drops, including brown eggs at Walmart and Giant, and brown rice at Giant, DC news reported.
However, experts caution that this relative stability could be short-lived if the ongoing federal government shutdown continues.
Logistics consultant Matt Lekstutis warns that reduced staffing at key federal agencies, including the FDA and EPA, could slow essential processing and shipping operations. Such disruptions may drive food prices up by 10% to 20% in the coming weeks. For now, grocery costs remain steady, but prolonged shutdown-related delays could quickly push prices higher across the region.
You may also like
Oscar Piastri crashes out of Brazilian GP sprint as title dreams take huge blow
Delhi CM vows to lay foundation for youth to achieve dreams
India names record 111-member contingent for Deaflympics 2025 in Tokyo
High street giant to close almost 7 stores in November - full list
Widely used crop pesticides are damaging animal behaviour on a large scale
