The parts of the U.S. government that will shut down are primarily those that cannot operate without annual appropriations. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees classified as non-essential will be furloughed without pay during the shutdown. Key points about shutdown effects are:
- Social Security Administration will continue mandatory benefit payments but furlough some staff and halt marketing efforts.
- Medicare and Medicaid will remain operational as they are mandatory spending programs.
- Federal law enforcement agencies like the FBI and CIA will continue working without pay.
- The U.S. Postal Service will operate normally as it is self-funded.
- The IRS will initially continue operations but may face furloughs if the shutdown extends.
- Air traffic controllers and most TSA staff will work without pay until shutdown ends.
- The federal judiciary may run out of funds for full operations quickly.
- Military personnel, including National Guard forces, will remain on duty without pay.
- Border patrol, immigration enforcement, and customs officers will continue working.
- Small Business Administration and FEMA will furlough significant portions of their staff, but FEMA has funds for disaster relief.
- Passport processing will slow, and some immigration services funded by fees will continue.
Non-essential government services and employees across various agencies will largely be suspended, while essential services related to national security, public safety, and mandatory programs will still operate but often without immediate pay until the shutdown is resolved.
