The 2025 U.S. government shutdown will affect a wide range of people and services. Most immediately impacted will be around 40% of the federal workforce, about 750,000 federal employees, who will be furloughed and not receive pay while off work. Federal law enforcement officers, TSA agents, border patrol, active-duty military personnel, medical staff in hospitals, and air traffic controllers will continue to work but without pay until funding is restored. Social Security payments and essential healthcare like Medicare and veterans’ services will continue, but processing of new applications and some regional offices may experience delays. National parks will remain open but without staff, leading to potential degradation of services. Air travel may see delays and longer security lines due to workforce disruptions among air traffic control and TSA. Many federal agencies will halt or slow down operations, including disaster relief, environmental protection, and food safety inspections. Federal contractors and those reliant on government business are also expected to face financial impacts. Overall, the shutdown causes significant disruption to public services, federal workers’ pay, and sectors connected to government funding in October 2025.
