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Here Are What Services Are Open, Closed in the Government Shutdown
Lawmakers are gradually trying to work out a compromise to reopen, but some agencies are scaling back in the meantime.
The U.S. Capitol in Washington DC
Stacy Robinson
10/1/2025
The federal government shutdown took effect on Oct. 1, and it’s unclear how long it will last. Some previous shutdowns lasted a day or two, while a 2019 closure went on for 35 days.
Many federal employees will be furloughed, or put on leave without pay, while the government is shut down—but they will receive back pay when they return because of a 2019 law.
The White House also announced on Wednesday that federal worker layoffs are coming “very soon” during the shutdown.
Republicans, Democrats, and the White House are grappling with negotiations to pass a temporary funding bill that would reopen the government until Nov. 21—and give lawmakers time to pass the required 12 annual appropriations bills.
In the meantime, many agencies released guidance documents this week detailing how they will function during the shutdown.
Some departments will be forced to scale back operations, but others will continue mostly unchanged.
Here’s a closer look.
Social Services
The Office of Veterans Affairs has advanced funding that should carry it through the shutdown unscathed. If that runs out, it will have to shut down some research programs, as well as services like the GI Bill call center.
During the shutdown, most of the Social Security Administration will continue to function. But one important thing to note: SSA will not process or issue replacement Medicare cards during this time.
Medicare and Medicaid will continue to function.
The Supplemental Nutrition Aid Program (SNAP)—better known as food stamps—remains funded, but its Women and Infant Children (WIC) program has limited funding during the shutdown.
Georgia Machell, president and CEO of the National WIC Association, called on Congress to quickly pass a funding bill, warning that the program has enough cash on hand for “likely one to two weeks.”
That initiative provides extra funding for food, infant formula, and medical services to pregnant women and young children in low-income families.
Student Loans
The Department of Education will cut a small percentage of its staff, but will continue awarding Pell Grants and student loans while the government is shut down.
Students will also have to keep making loan payments.
It will cease making grants during this time, but its guidance document says most of those are awarded over the summer months—a shutdown that long would be unprecedented.
The Office for Civil Rights will also pause investigations until the government reopens.
National Parks
Some aspects of the National Parks Service system will be open during the shutdown, according to the agency’s contingency plan.
“Park roads, lookouts, trails, and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to visitors,” its guidance document says.
However, some areas will close, and the agency’s social media accounts will not be updated, except in case of an emergency.
Around 9,000 of its 14,500 employees will be furloughed.
Travel
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to furlough about a quarter of its 44,000 employees.
Essential personnel such as air traffic controllers and security workers will continue to work, but without pay until the shutdown ends.
Other activities, such as rulemaking committees and random drug testing of employees, will cease for the time being.
The Federal Railroad Administration has just over 1,000 workers, and will send 239 of them home.
Safety inspectors and accident investigators will remain on the job, but research and development projects will cease.
Taxes
The IRS has supplemental funding that lasts through Sept. 30 of 2031.
It has a contingency plan that kicks in five days after its funding lapses, which allows its 74,299 employees to work half days—but does not expect to use it.
Department of War
The nation’s military will continue operations, but the soldiers will have to go without pay until that funding is secured—or the shutdown ends.
The Department of War also employs around 740,000 civilians.
Some of these employees will be furloughed, and temporarily replaced by military staff; the department is in the process of evaluating which workers and functions are essential.
Homeland Security
Agencies that operate under the Department of Homeland Security will experience varying levels of workforce reduction.
Notably, immigration activities will continue unchanged during the shutdown.
“There is no change to U.S. immigration laws or border enforcement,” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement wrote on X on Wednesday.
“Rumors that a U.S. government shutdown will allow illegal immigrants to enter the United States are false.”
The Transportation Security Administration, Secret Service, and U.S. Coast Guard will also keep most of their employees working.
However, nearly two-thirds of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s 2,540 employees will be furloughed.
The Court System
The U.S. court system will operate as normal until Oct. 17 by tapping into funds accumulated through court fees and other funding.
After that time, courts will still be in session, but may operate at reduced staff levels, and delays are expected.
Delays may also occur if certain employees for the Department of Justice (DOJ)—which is prosecuting some cases and defending the administration in others—are furloughed.
Around 89 percent of its staff are considered “essential” and will stay on the job. The DOJ guidance document says that criminal cases will be prioritized over civil litigation.
Judge James Boasberg, Chief Judge for the U.S. District of Columbia, issued an order giving the government more time to file responses to motions in the many lawsuits it is currently facing.
Boasberg extended most deadlines by the length of the shutdown, plus 10 days.
However, that extension does not apply to initial requests to block actions by the federal government—those still have to be answered in a timely fashion.
Health
The Department of Health and Human Services has around 79,000 employees, and approximately 32,000 of those will be furloughed during the shutdown; this will impact some of the agencies it oversees.
Some programs, such as the Unaccompanied Alien Children program, will continue functioning.
During this time, it will not be able to fulfill Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests or perform data collection and analysis.
Likewise, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will continue to respond to public health emergencies, and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) will also continue.
However, programs guiding states on opioid overdose, HIV, and diabetes prevention will be paused.
The Food and Drug Administration will continue some of its work, overseeing drug recalls, and “responding to outbreaks related to foodborne illness and infectious diseases.”
However, it will cease accepting applications related to new drugs or for generic versions of already-existing medications.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will cut about 75 percent of its staff and will halt peer review meetings for new grants.
However, it will continue to work at the NIH Clinical Research Center for the sake of its current patients.
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From The Epoch Times
Link:
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/her...ner&src_cmp=gp
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