Late Tuesday night (11 PM our time, midnight on the East Coast), the federal government officially entered a shutdown. This is the 15th full shutdown in U.S. history (21st if you count partial funding gaps). Understandably, you may be wondering: what does this really mean, and how might it affect you?
What continues during a shutdown?
The specifics can vary, but many essential services continue operating. Generally, emergency and safety-related positions remain funded. For example:
- TSA officers and air traffic controllers
- Federal law enforcement (FBI, CIA, etc.)
- Doctors and nurses at federal hospitals
- Active-duty military personnel
Other agencies may run at reduced capacity or rely on reserve funds. For instance, the National Weather Service will still issue forecasts, though possibly with fewer staff.
Some programs and services are legally protected and will keep running no matter what. These include:
- Social Security and Medicare
- Postal service (mail delivery continues as usual)
- Congressional salaries
- IRS operations (at least in the short term, using previously allocated funds)
What could pause or scale back?
This is largely determined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). A few common areas affected include:
- National Parks – Many close during shutdowns, though some may stay open if they can rely on their own collected funds. Always check the website of the park you plan to visit.
- Veterans Affairs – Core health and counseling services continue, but career counseling, cemetery maintenance, and call centers may scale back.
- Defense Department civilian staff & National Guard – Some may face furloughs (temporary unpaid leave).
- Airports – While air traffic controllers remain funded, some TSA staff could see reduced hours, potentially leading to longer wait times.
Historically, furloughs don’t immediately translate into layoffs. Most federal jobs require at least 60 days’ notice before permanent cuts.
How long will this last?
That’s the big unknown. The length of a shutdown depends on how quickly Congress reaches an agreement on a spending bill. Right now, negotiations are at a standstill. Historically, shutdowns have ranged from just a couple of days to 35 days (the record, in 2018–2019).
The longer a shutdown goes on, the more the impact grows—not only for federal employees but also for businesses and communities that rely on government-related spending. For example, hotels and restaurants near National Parks can see significant slowdowns. Economists estimate growth could slow by about 0.15% per week if the shutdown drags on.
What should you do?
For most people not employed by or directly tied to federal programs, the main impact will be small day-to-day inconveniences. The best approach is to stay focused on your long-term financial goals and be aware that some services may take longer than usual.
As always, we’re here to answer your questions and help you stay on track.