Fact check: Which government services are exempt from the shutdown, and why?

1. What journalists are repeatedly claiming about who keeps working — and why that matters

News summaries converge on a core set of continuations: benefit payments, defense, border security, air traffic control, postal services, and law enforcement remain operational because statutory entitlements, national-security missions, or user-funded status create legal or practical imperatives to keep them running ^{[1] [3] [2]}. These continuations matter because they preserve immediate life-safety, contract obligations, and ongoing flows of money to millions. Reporting from early October through October 22 shows consistent listing of the same categories, indicating cross-outlet agreement on the basic exempt list ^{[6] [7]}.

2. Which agencies are described as effectively “open” and the legal or funding reasons cited

Multiple accounts describe the Postal Service, Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers, Social Security Administration, Department of Defense, and certain Department of Homeland Security operations as continuing because they are self-funded, legally mandated, or critical to public safety ^{[3] [2]}. The Postal Service’s operating model and veterans’ health system funding streams are cited as reasons they can keep daily operations. Social Security and veteran benefits flow from entitlements that courts and the Treasury treat as ongoing obligations, so benefits continue even if some administrative staff are furloughed ^{[1] [5]}.

3. Where reporting highlights exceptions, errors, and internal agency choices

Accounts document that some employees who would normally be exempt still faced furloughs or payroll confusion, notably at the General Services Administration, where internal direction contradicted contingency expectations and led to mistaken instructions ^[4]. This demonstrates a gap between legal/mission-based exemptions and real-world personnel actions. Coverage through October 3 and later indicates agencies sometimes interpret contingency rules conservatively or mishandle communications, producing temporary service lapses despite official exemption lists ^{[4] [7]}.

4. Programs that appear exempt but face short-term funding or operational limits

Reporting flags that while benefits like SNAP, Medicare, and Medicaid are generally paid, some food-aid and state-administered programs may exhaust available federal funds, producing disruptions months into a shutdown ^{[5] [6]}. The distinction here is between statutory entitlements that continue and programs dependent on annual appropriations or supplemental administrative funding that can run out. News on October 22 warns of possible November shortfalls for SNAP in some states, underscoring that “exempt” status does not always guarantee uninterrupted service beyond near-term cash-on-hand ^[5].

5. Complexities inside the IRS, FDA, and other mixed-function agencies

Several agencies house both exempt and non-exempt functions: the IRS retains Criminal Investigation and certain enforcement functions while taxpayer-assistance centers and some processing are curtailed, and food-safety inspections may be reduced even when border security continues ^{[7] [8] [6]}. These accounts highlight that a single agency can be both largely shuttered and simultaneously performing mission-critical tasks. Public-facing services often stop even while enforcement and protection roles continue, creating uneven public impacts ^{[8] [6]}.

6. Who keeps getting paid and who faces furloughs — the human and operational implications

Coverage indicates that active-duty military, customs and border protection officers, air-traffic controllers, and selected law-enforcement personnel continue to work and receive pay, though sometimes retroactively; meanwhile many civilian federal workers are furloughed or told to stay home ^{[9] [2] [4]}. Stories through mid-October show both assurances that pay will be issued and real-world confusion about which staff should report, reflecting operational strain and morale concerns when contingency plans collide with on-the-ground interpretations ^{[4] [9]}.

7. Where reporting diverges and what that reveals about agendas and uncertainty

While most outlets list similar exempt categories, reporting diverges on tone and emphasis: some pieces emphasize the continuity of benefits and safety services, possibly to reassure the public, while others stress administrative failures and program shortfalls to highlight disruption ^{[1] [4] [5]}. These differences reflect editorial choices to focus on system resilience or failure points; both perspectives are factual but reveal different priorities — reassurance versus urgency — that readers should weigh when evaluating the practical impact of an ongoing shutdown ^{[6] [4]}.

8. Bottom line for the public: what to expect in the coming weeks

The factual picture across reporting is clear: core life-safety, defense, benefits payments, and certain self-funded operations continue, but many civilian services, administrative supports, and some aid programs face curtailment or timing risks. Expect operational nuance at agency level, possible payroll confusion, and the risk that programs dependent on short-term appropriations or intergovernmental transfers could exhaust funds within weeks, producing disruptions even for categories nominally “exempt” from a shutdown ^{[3] [5] [4]}.