October 1, 2026 — The new federal fiscal year started without a shutdown, so airport security, air traffic control and border processing continue as normal. At the same time, US health officials are tracking measles exposures on public transport and a record year for locally acquired dengue in Florida.
No shutdown, for now
- Funding bill: Congress passed, and the President signed, a stopgap funding bill (H.R. 6500, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027). It funds federal agencies through December 11, 2026.
- What keeps running: TSA, FAA air traffic control and CBP will operate normally through that date.
- Next deadline: December 11 is right before the holiday travel peak, so the shutdown risk comes back then.
Measles on the move
- Cases: NPR reported on September 30 that the US has passed 3,600 confirmed measles cases this year (as of September 24).
- Deaths: CDC counted two deaths as of September 28. Pennsylvania health officials count four.
- Where: Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York have recorded the most cases in the past two weeks.
- Exposure sites: public health alerts have listed exposures on trains and buses, at stadiums and in bars.
Florida: record locally acquired dengue
- Cases: Weather.com reports more than 190 locally acquired dengue cases in Florida this year. That beats the 2023 record of 186.
- Counties: Hillsborough County accounts for 170 of them.
- Emergency declarations: Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties have declared local states of emergency. Orange County has issued a mosquito-borne illness alert.
- First death: Florida recorded its first dengue death of the year, an 80-year-old woman in Hillsborough County.
Flash floods in the Southwest and Plains
- Cause: the remains of former Hurricane Polo are bringing a flash-flood threat to parts of the Southwest, the Southern and Central Plains and the Midwest.
- Affected cities: forecasters named Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio.
- Timing: the heaviest rain moves to the Southern Plains on Thursday, then into the Southeast over the weekend.
- Damage so far: I-10 between Tucson and Phoenix has already flooded.
Visitor fees go up October 16
A Federal Register notice published October 1 raises two fees for foreign visitors, effective October 16:
| Fee | Current | From Oct 16 |
|---|---|---|
| ESTA (Visa Waiver travel authorization) | $40.27 | $40.62 |
| EVUS (Chinese 10-year visa holders) | $30.75 | $31.75 |
US and Canadian citizens don’t need either one.
What it means for airline travelers
- Shutdown: you won’t see shutdown-related security lines or air traffic control cuts this month. If you’re planning around Thanksgiving or December travel, keep the December 11 deadline in mind.
- Measles: ask your doctor whether you’re protected, especially before visiting the states with the most cases or traveling with infants. CDC advises two doses of MMR vaccine.
- Florida dengue: in the Tampa Bay area, use EPA-registered insect repellent and wear long sleeves at dawn and dusk.
- Flash floods: check flight status at DFW, Austin and San Antonio on Thursday. Never drive through flooded roads.
- ESTA/EVUS: if friends or family from Visa Waiver countries are coming to visit, they can apply before October 16 to pay the current fee.
Sources
- Fox News — Trump signs government funding bill avoiding shutdown
- LeadingAge — Congress passes funding measure through December 11
- WAMC (NPR) — Travel plans? What to know as measles exposures reach trains and games
- Weather.com — Dengue fever in Florida hits record
- Weather.com — Polo remnants bring flash flooding to Southwest and Plains
- Federal Register (official) — Certain DHS immigration-related fees: FY2027 inflation adjustments
