Keep Factually independent
Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.
What services continue during a federal shutdown and which are suspended?
Executive Summary
A federal shutdown forces agencies to distinguish between excepted (essential) work that protects life and property and non-excepted (nonessential) functions that are paused; mandatory entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid continue to pay, while many discretionary services and customer-facing functions are curtailed or suspended. Recent reporting and agency guidance from late 2024 through November 2025 show consistent patterns: air traffic control, law enforcement, border protection and other safety-critical roles remain on duty (often without immediate pay), the U.S. Postal Service and some fee-funded services keep operating, and nonessential staff are furloughed until appropriations are restored [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6].
1. Who says what — extracting the core claims and the consistent rules that matter
Across government advisories and news coverage, the core claim is uniform: a shutdown does not halt the entire federal government; it suspends discretionary, annually funded activities while continuing work funded by mandatory or separate appropriations and activities necessary for life or property protection. Agencies implement that legal framework differently, creating variations in what local offices keep running (for example, SSA field services vs. procedural tasks) and what is paused (such as routine inspections and public-facing nonessential services) [1] [3] [6]. Recent Q&A guidance and shutdown furlough instructions summarize the personnel rules: excepted employees remain on duty, exempt employees paid from other authorities continue to be paid, while non-excepted employees are furloughed but typically receive retroactive pay after the shutdown ends [4] [6].
2. What continues — the services you can rely on during a shutdown
Mandatory entitlement programs continue to issue benefits: Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Medicare and Medicaid payments proceed on schedule because they are not funded through annual appropriations, and agencies continue to process many essential cases related to benefits and appeals, though some support functions are reduced [1] [4]. Safety-critical federal operations also persist: air traffic control, TSA security screening, border patrol, prison operations, and active-duty military remain staffed to preserve safety and order, and many fee-funded services such as passport processing and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services work that is covered by user fees may continue in a limited way [2] [3] [4]. The U.S. Postal Service and organizations funded outside the regular appropriations cycle likewise keep operating [3] [2].
3. What slows or stops — the most common and tangible disruptions
Shutdowns typically close or restrict discretionary public services: national parks and monuments, museums, and many grant-dependent public programs often close or curtail operations; research projects, routine FDA and USDA inspections, and nonurgent regulatory actions are frequently delayed or paused, creating knock-on effects for businesses and public health oversight [3] [4]. Local offices may suspend services like issuing proof-of-income letters, replacing Medicare cards in-person, or conducting certain benefit-verification activities even as payments continue — online portals sometimes provide partial substitutes, but procedural backlogs accumulate [1] [4]. Over time, agency reserve funds and fee balances can be exhausted, expanding the scope of disruptions beyond the initial core exceptions [2] [4].
4. The human and fiscal dynamics — who works without pay and the economic ripple effects
Shutdowns routinely split the workforce into employees who work without immediate pay (excepted) and those who are furloughed and not on duty; both groups typically receive retroactive pay when Congress appropriates funds, but the timing and cash-flow stress vary by agency and payroll system [5] [6]. The longer a shutdown lasts, the greater the economic drag: delayed small-business loans, suspended disaster relief, slowed FDA inspections, and reduced regulatory processing can harm commerce and public safety, while furloughed employees and unpaid essential workers experience immediate income shortfalls—costs that often outstrip any short-term savings from paused discretionary spending [3] [5]. Labor-management guidance and union statements during recent shutdowns document both operational strain and political pressure to resolve funding gaps quickly [7] [5].
5. What to watch and where to get current answers as situations evolve
Because implementation differs by agency and changes as reserves or fee balances are used, the most reliable, current information comes from agency notices and OMB guidance: check the Social Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security components (TSA, CBP), Department of Defense, and agency shutdown pages for details on local operations, and monitor reputable news summaries that compile agency advisories. Recent reporting through October and November 2025 highlights that the situation can shift rapidly—airlines and health-care providers report operational impacts early while park closures and research suspensions often follow as funding runs out—so expect evolving service lists and staggered impacts across payroll cycles and reserve funds [2] [4] [5].