Veterans Day, originally Armistice Day, honors U.S. veterans and service members. This year, the ongoing government shutdown has forced celebration cancellations, closed federal offices, and severely disrupted air travel as unpaid air traffic controllers impact flight schedules.
Veterans Day, celebrated annually on November 11th, originated over a century ago as Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I on November 11, 1918. President Woodrow Wilson marked the first Armistice Day in 1919, and Congress officially established November 11th as a federal holiday in 1938. Over time, its purpose evolved to recognize and honor all U.S. veterans of every war, as well as those currently serving in uniform. This year, the holiday is significantly impacted by the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. While federal government employees and postal workers typically have the day off, many are already not reporting to work due to the shutdown. Consequently, numerous Veterans Day celebrations have been cancelled. Regarding what's open and closed: Government offices, post offices, and courts are closed. Most banks and the bond market are also closed, although U.S. stock markets remain open for trading. While many public and private schools operate as usual, some may choose to close. Major retailers like Walmart, Home Depot, and Target are largely open, often offering promotional sales. However, the most significant disruption is to travel. Although Veterans Day is not typically a major travel day, the federal government shutdown has severely impacted air travel. Airlines cancelled over 1,500 flights on Saturday, more than 2,900 on Sunday, nearly 1,600 on Monday, and close to 1,000 for Tuesday. These cancellations stem from an FAA order to reduce air traffic, as some air traffic controllers, unpaid for nearly a month due to the shutdown, have stopped showing up for work. While the Senate has taken initial steps toward ending the shutdown, final resolution is still days away, and experts anticipate it will take time for flight schedules to normalize even after the government reopens.
