Fact check: Which government agencies are most affected by the 2025 shutdown, and what services are suspended?

Executive Summary

The 2025 federal government shutdown, which began at midnight on October 1, 2025, temporarily halts many nonessential federal operations while preserving core national security and public safety functions, and it places hundreds of thousands of federal employees into furlough or working without pay ^{[1] [2]}. Reporting across sources shows agreement that critical services like air traffic control and Social Security continue to operate, while programs tied to discretionary appropriations — including national parks, some nutrition assistance, and certain public-health communications — face suspension or interruptions ^{[1] [2] [3]}.

1. Which agencies see the biggest operational hit and why this matters

Multiple sources identify agencies funded through annual discretionary appropriations as the most affected, notably the National Park Service, parts of the Department of Agriculture that run nutrition programs, and many Department of Health and Human Services activities that are not considered emergency operations ^{[2] [4]}. The shutdown forces those agencies to furlough staff or scale back functions because Congress has not passed the appropriations or stopgap bills necessary to keep discretionary programs funded; this dynamic means visible public-facing services and routine administrative functions are first to be curtailed, which affects tourism, grant processing, inspections, and outreach programs ^{[2] [4]}.

2. The workforce: furloughs, pay interruptions, and who remains on duty

Reporting places roughly 750,000 federal employees at risk of furlough or forced to work without immediate pay, creating immediate personnel shortfalls in affected agencies ^[2]. At the same time, federal employees classified as “excepted” for national security, public safety, or emergency functions continue to work, including air traffic controllers and certain law enforcement personnel, a distinction that preserves essential services but leaves many support roles idle ^{[1] [4]}. The consequence is an operational patchwork: core safety functions remain staffed while administrative backstops and routine enforcement may be reduced ^{[1] [2]}.

3. Services that remain running: the safety net’s backbone stays operational

There is consistent reporting that Social Security payments and many national security-related operations continue during the shutdown, reflecting statutory protections and categorical priorities for public safety ^{[1] [4]}. The U.S. Postal Service and similar mission-critical agencies with independent funding streams also continue to operate, preventing a complete halt to mail and federal retirement payments that rely on mandatory rather than discretionary appropriations ^{[3] [1]}. These continuities aim to prevent immediate harm to lives and commerce, though ancillary services that support these functions may be slowed ^{[1] [3]}.

4. Services that pause or slow: where the public will notice disruption

Sources converge that national parks, certain nutrition assistance programs, and some health-related communications or grant processes face suspension or reduced activity during the shutdown ^{[2] [3]}. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for example, may curtail nonemergency communications and programs, and veterans’ assistance offices and other benefits processing centers could see slower customer service or paused outreach, producing real-world impacts for beneficiaries and visitors who rely on routine access to federal services ^{[3] [4]}.

5. Political lines and competing explanations for responsibility

Coverage documents a partisan stalemate between Republicans and Democrats over funding priorities, with Republicans advancing stopgap measures and Democrats seeking concessions on health-care issues such as continued insurance subsidies, creating a public blame dynamic that complicates negotiations ^[5]. Each side emphasizes different elements — Republicans framing fiscal control and Democrats focusing on protections for health programs — and this political framing affects which programs are targeted in proposals, shaping the practical contours of what remains funded versus what is suspended ^[5].

6. What reporting shows about duration, negotiations, and possible mitigation

Live updates and contemporaneous reporting underscore that the shutdown’s duration hinges on ongoing congressional negotiations and any temporary funding measures, with senators and House members actively voting on options as of October 1, 2025 ^{[3] [5]}. Some agencies may implement contingency plans to stretch limited resources, while others await a resolution to reinstate full operations; the practical effect is that the public will see a staggered return to normalcy tied to legislative action rather than an agency-level decision ^{[3] [5]}.

7. Bottom line: who to watch and what to expect next

In the near term, expect discretionary-funded agencies and visible public services such as parks, certain nutrition and public-health programs, and administrative benefits processing to bear the brunt of suspensions, while national security, air traffic control, Social Security, and agencies with independent funding streams remain operational ^{[2] [1] [3]}. The situation remains fluid and politically charged: ongoing negotiations and stopgap proposals introduced on October 1, 2025 will determine how quickly suspended services resume and which programs face longer interruptions ^[5].