The federal government has closed after Republicans and Democrats failed to reach a budget agreement. The deadlock threatens to disrupt many public services and could place 40% of the federal workforce (about 750,000 employees) on unpaid leave.
Your next flight
Air traffic controllers and TSA staff are considered essential and will continue working but without pay. Past shutdowns show that unpaid workers often call in sick, which could result in long security lines and nationwide flight delays. Passport processing may also slow down, affecting international travel plans.
No work – or pay – for federal workers
Hundreds of thousands of federal employees face furloughs and delayed pay. Law enforcement, border control, medical staff, and air-traffic controllers will keep working unpaid. Departments most affected include Defense, Health, Commerce, State, and NASA. Research at CDC and NIH may be interrupted, while contractors risk losing work with no back-pay. Members of Congress, however, will continue to receive their salaries.
National Parks with no staff
National Parks and Forests could face closures, though in the previous shutdown, they remained open with little to no staff. This led to vandalism, looting, and damage to protected areas. Former park leaders have urged a complete closure to prevent similar problems.
Visit to the zoo
Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo will remain open temporarily using reserve funds. Zoo animals will continue to be cared for, but webcams, considered non-essential, will be turned off.
Healthcare for the elderly and poor
Medicare and Medicaid will continue but may face delays due to staff shortages. Food assistance programmes are at risk. WIC could run out of funds quickly, while SNAP may last longer but is still vulnerable. FEMA’s disaster relief remains mostly unaffected for now, though its fund could deplete if the shutdown continues. Flood insurance services will halt, potentially delaying some property transactions.
Mail will still arrive
The US Postal Service will continue operating normally, as it is funded independently through sales and not dependent on congressional appropriations
Reference
Matza, M. (2025, October 1). How the government shutdown will affect Americans. BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgj1p485p0n