英文
※太字部分は解説がのちほどあり。
Partial US government shutdown could mean airport delays, travel groups say:
Major travel groups and airlines are pushing US lawmakers to reach a deal on government funding ahead of a partial shutdown, arguing it could lead to travel chaos during spring break.
In a joint statement, several groups, including Airlines for America, said no deal increases the risk of unscheduled absences by Transportation Security Administration workers, causing flight delays and longer wait times.
“Travelers and the US economy cannot afford to have essential TSA personnel working without pay,” the groups said.
A partial government shutdown is set to begin at midnight (5:00 GMT) on Saturday after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
In exchange for a funding deal, Democrats had been pushing for more restrictions on US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which will not be significantly affected by the shutdown because of funding from the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” last year.
Democrats have been demanding reforms after federal agents in January killed Alex Pretti and Renee Good, two Minneapolis residents who were protesting the Trump administration’s immigration raids in Minnesota.
They have asked for a number of changes within DHS, including a ban on immigration agents wearing face masks, better identification for officers and stricter rules for obtaining warrants.
On Thursday, Senate Democrats blocked two funding bills because the measures did not include the immigration reforms. The most recent funding measure passed at the end of January only funded DHS for two more weeks while lawmakers from both sides of the aisle attempted to reach a deal on immigration reforms.
On Friday, President Donald Trump said “we’ll see what happens” when asked by reporters if he anticipated cutting a deal with Democrats to fund the DHS.
“We always have to protect our law enforcement,” Trump added.
The shutdown is expected to affect several agencies under the DHS umbrella, including the Coast Guard and TSA.
Last year, the US government saw its longest full shut-down in history for 43 days, leading to many federal workers going without pay and flight chaos. Democrats at the time were pushing for more health care funding to address rising health care costs.
Congress is set to take a recess until 23 February, meaning the shutdown could continue until US President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address the following day.
However, lawmakers could be called back to Washington earlier if they seem on the brink of a deal.
The partial shutdown involve as m is unlikely to cause as much travel chaos as last year’s because the Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees air traffic controllers, has already been funded for the rest of the year.
But TSA agents – who fall under DHS – may have to go without pay if the shutdown drags on, meaning people could see longer lines at the airport if workers call in sick.
The Coast Guard, which DHS also oversees, could be affected. Vice Admiral Thomas Allan told lawmakers that going a few days without funding would mean no pay for about 56,000 workers, leading the agency to suspend missions that are not critical or lifesaving.
DHS has $165bn (£120bn) from Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act – which also included $75bn to fund ICE – that it could use to address some of the funding shortfalls.
英文の引用元：https://www.bbc.com
理解度チェックのクイズ
Q1. Travel groups are worried that a government shutdown could cause what during spring break?
A. Lower ticket prices
B. Travel chaos and airport delays
C. Free flights for travelers
Q2. What might happen to TSA workers if the shutdown continues?
A. They may receive bonuses
B. They may work without pay
C. They may stop airport security checks permanently
Q3. Why did Senate Democrats block two funding bills?
A. They wanted more airport construction
B. The bills did not include immigration reforms
C. They opposed funding for the Coast Guard
Q4. Why is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) unlikely to be affected?
A. It was already funded for the rest of the year
B. It does not belong to the government
C. It stopped controlling air traffic
Q5. How many days did the longest full government shutdown last last year?
A. 23 days
B. 30 days
C. 43 days
答えと解説
A1. 正解：B
解説：本文では「arguing it could lead to travel chaos during spring break」とあり、春休みに旅行の混乱が起きる可能性があると述べています。
A2. 正解：B
解説：「TSA personnel working without pay」や「may have to go without pay if the shutdown drags on」と書かれており、無給で働く可能性があると説明されています。
A3. 正解：B
解説：「Senate Democrats blocked two funding bills because the measures did not include the immigration reforms」とあり、移民改革が含まれていなかったため阻止したと書かれています。
A4. 正解：A
解説：「the Federal Aviation Administration… has already been funded for the rest of the year」とあり、すでに今年度分の予算が確保されているため大きな影響は出にくいと説明されています。
A5. 正解：C
解説：「its longest full shut-down in history for 43 days」とあり、43日間だったことが分かります。
ニュースの背景解説
アメリカでは、政府の予算案が議会で承認されないと、一部の政府機関が一時的に閉鎖（シャットダウン）されます。今回は国土安全保障省（DHS）の予算が合意に至らず、TSA（空港の保安検査）や沿岸警備隊などに影響が出る可能性があります。
民主党は移民政策の改革を求めており、それが予算合意の条件になっています。一方、共和党側やトランプ大統領は法執行機関を守る姿勢を強調しています。過去には43日間という長期シャットダウンもあり、多くの公務員が無給で働く事態となりました。そのため、旅行業界は春休みシーズンへの影響を強く懸念しています。
英文の和訳
Partial US government shutdown could mean airport delays, travel groups say:
アメリカ政府の一部閉鎖は空港の遅延を意味する可能性があると、旅行団体が述べています。
Major travel groups and airlines are pushing US lawmakers to reach a deal on government funding ahead of a partial shutdown, arguing it could lead to travel chaos during spring break.
主要な旅行団体や航空会社は、政府の一部閉鎖を前に予算合意に達するよう米国議員に求めており、それが春休み中の旅行の混乱につながる可能性があると主張しています。
In a joint statement, several groups, including Airlines for America, said no deal increases the risk of unscheduled absences by Transportation Security Administration workers, causing flight delays and longer wait times.
アメリカ航空協会を含む複数の団体は共同声明の中で、合意がなければ運輸保安庁（TSA）の職員が予期せず欠勤するリスクが高まり、その結果、フライトの遅延や待ち時間の長期化が起こると述べました。
“Travelers and the US economy cannot afford to have essential TSA personnel working without pay,” the groups said.
「旅行者や米国経済は、重要なTSA職員が無給で働く状況を受け入れる余裕はありません」と団体は述べました。
A partial government shutdown is set to begin at midnight (5:00 GMT) on Saturday after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
議員たちが国土安全保障省（DHS）の予算で合意に達することができなかったため、政府の一部閉鎖は土曜日の午前0時（GMT午前5時）に始まる予定です。
In exchange for a funding deal, Democrats had been pushing for more restrictions on US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which will not be significantly affected by the shutdown because of funding from the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” last year.
予算合意と引き換えに、民主党は米国移民・関税執行局（ICE）へのさらなる制限を求めていましたが、ICEは昨年の「One Big Beautiful Bill Act」による資金があるため、今回の閉鎖で大きな影響は受けません。
Democrats have been demanding reforms after federal agents in January killed Alex Pretti and Renee Good, two Minneapolis residents who were protesting the Trump administration’s immigration raids in Minnesota.
民主党は、1月に連邦捜査官がミネアポリスの住民アレックス・プレッティ氏とレニー・グッド氏を殺害したことを受け、改革を求めてきました。2人はトランプ政権のミネソタ州での移民取り締まりに抗議していました。
They have asked for a number of changes within DHS, including a ban on immigration agents wearing face masks, better identification for officers and stricter rules for obtaining warrants.
彼らはDHS内部でのいくつかの変更を求めており、移民捜査官がフェイスマスクを着用することの禁止、職員の身元確認の強化、令状取得のより厳しい規則などを含んでいます。
On Thursday, Senate Democrats blocked two funding bills because the measures did not include the immigration reforms.
木曜日、上院民主党は移民改革が含まれていなかったため、2つの予算案を阻止しました。
The most recent funding measure passed at the end of January only funded DHS for two more weeks while lawmakers from both sides of the aisle attempted to reach a deal on immigration reforms.
1月末に可決された最新の予算措置は、与野党の議員が移民改革で合意を目指す間、DHSに対してさらに2週間分の資金しか提供しませんでした。
On Friday, President Donald Trump said “we’ll see what happens” when asked by reporters if he anticipated cutting a deal with Democrats to fund the DHS.
金曜日、ドナルド・トランプ大統領は、DHSへの資金提供について民主党と合意する見込みがあるか記者から問われ、「どうなるか見てみよう」と述べました。
“We always have to protect our law enforcement,” Trump added.
「私たちは常に法執行機関を守らなければならない」とトランプ氏は付け加えました。
The shutdown is expected to affect several agencies under the DHS umbrella, including the Coast Guard and TSA.
この閉鎖は、沿岸警備隊やTSAを含むDHS傘下の複数の機関に影響を及ぼすと予想されています。
Last year, the US government saw its longest full shut-down in history for 43 days, leading to many federal workers going without pay and flight chaos.
昨年、米国政府は史上最長となる43日間の全面閉鎖を経験し、多くの連邦職員が無給となり、航空便の混乱が発生しました。
Democrats at the time were pushing for more health care funding to address rising health care costs.
当時、民主党は高騰する医療費に対応するため、より多くの医療予算を求めていました。
Congress is set to take a recess until 23 February, meaning the shutdown could continue until US President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address the following day.
議会は2月23日まで休会する予定であり、そのため閉鎖は翌日のトランプ大統領の一般教書演説まで続く可能性があります。
However, lawmakers could be called back to Washington earlier if they seem on the brink of a deal.
しかし、合意が間近に迫っているようであれば、議員たちは早めにワシントンに呼び戻される可能性があります。
The partial shutdown involve as m is unlikely to cause as much travel chaos as last year’s because the Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees air traffic controllers, has already been funded for the rest of the year.
この一部閉鎖は、航空管制官を監督する連邦航空局がすでに今年度分の資金を確保しているため、昨年ほどの旅行の混乱を引き起こす可能性は低いとみられています。
But TSA agents – who fall under DHS – may have to go without pay if the shutdown drags on, meaning people could see longer lines at the airport if workers call in sick.
しかし、DHSに属するTSA職員は閉鎖が長引けば無給になる可能性があり、その場合、職員が病欠すれば空港でより長い列ができる可能性があります。
The Coast Guard, which DHS also oversees, could be affected.
DHSが監督する沿岸警備隊も影響を受ける可能性があります。
Vice Admiral Thomas Allan told lawmakers that going a few days without funding would mean no pay for about 56,000 workers, leading the agency to suspend missions that are not critical or lifesaving.
トーマス・アラン副提督は議員に対し、数日間資金がなければ約5万6千人の職員が無給となり、緊急性や救命に関わらない任務を停止せざるを得なくなると述べました。
DHS has $165bn (£120bn) from Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act – which also included $75bn to fund ICE – that it could use to address some of the funding shortfalls.
DHSはトランプ氏の「One Big Beautiful Bill Act」から1,650億ドル（1,200億ポンド）の資金を得ており（そのうち750億ドルはICE向け）、資金不足の一部に対応するために使用できる可能性があります。
英語学習ポイント解説
- push A to do（Aに～するよう強く求める）
are pushing US lawmakers to reach a deal の形で使われています。push は「押す」だけでなく「強く促す」という意味があります。ビジネス英語でもよく使われます。 - lead to（～につながる）
lead to travel chaos は「旅行の混乱につながる」という意味です。原因→結果を表すときの基本表現で、TOEICでも頻出です。 - be set to do（～する予定である）
is set to begin は「始まる予定である」という未来表現です。be going to よりもフォーマルで、ニュース記事でよく使われます。 - in exchange for（～と引き換えに）
In exchange for a funding deal は「予算合意と引き換えに」という意味です。交渉や契約の場面で非常によく使われる重要表現です。 - go without pay（無給で働く／給料なしで）
go without pay は「給料なしで働く」という意味です。without は「～なしで」という重要前置詞で、go without food（食べ物なしで）など応用もできます。