Veterans Day: What’s open, what’s closed

Veterans Day Celebrations Curtailed as Government Shutdown Continues

The Veterans Day holiday, a long-standing tradition honoring those who have served in the U.S. armed forces, faces significant disruptions this year due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, now the longest in American history.

Many Veterans Day celebrations across the country have been canceled as federal workers remain furloughed, casting a shadow over a day meant to honor military service members past and present.

The holiday, which traces its origins back more than a century, began as Armistice Day—a commemoration of the agreement that ended hostilities in World War I at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918. President Woodrow Wilson first recognized the occasion in 1919, and Congress officially designated November 11 as a federal holiday in 1938. Over time, the day evolved to honor American veterans of all conflicts and those currently in uniform.

While Veterans Day typically means a day off for postal workers and federal employees, the shutdown has already forced most of these workers to stay home without pay for weeks, making the holiday closure largely symbolic this year.

The impact of the shutdown extends beyond ceremonial events. Air travelers face mounting challenges as the effects ripple through the transportation system. U.S. airlines have canceled thousands of flights—more than 1,500 on Saturday and over 2,900 on Sunday—to comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) orders to reduce traffic volume. The disruptions come as some air traffic controllers, who have gone unpaid for nearly a month, have stopped reporting to work.

The situation shows little sign of immediate improvement, with airlines already canceling nearly 1,600 flights for Monday and almost 1,000 for Tuesday. Even after the Senate took a preliminary step toward ending the shutdown on Sunday, final passage could still be days away. Aviation experts caution that flight schedules will require additional time to normalize even after government operations resume.

For businesses and financial institutions, Veterans Day brings a mixed operational picture. Major retailers including Walmart, Home Depot, and Target will maintain normal operations, with many offering special promotions to attract customers during what would typically be a regular business day. The U.S. stock markets will also continue trading as usual.

However, most banks will be closed in observance of the federal holiday, as will the bond market. Government offices, post offices, and courts remain shuttered, combining the regular holiday closure with the ongoing shutdown furloughs.

Schools present a varied landscape, with many public and private institutions operating on their normal schedules. Some districts, depending on location, traditionally close for Veterans Day, and those plans remain unchanged despite the broader government situation.

The disruption to Veterans Day observances represents another casualty of the protracted political standoff in Washington. What should be a day of national unity and recognition of military service has instead become entangled in the consequences of governmental dysfunction.

As Americans attempt to honor veterans amid these challenges, the situation underscores the far-reaching effects of the shutdown, which has moved beyond administrative inconvenience to impact traditional civic ceremonies and essential services like air travel, touching the lives of citizens across the country.