During a government shutdown, federal agencies must discontinue all non-essential discretionary functions until new funding legislation is passed and signed into law. Essential services continue to function, as do mandatory spending programs. The specific agencies and services affected by a government shutdown depend on the details of the funding legislation in effect at the time of the shutdown. Past shutdowns have affected numerous services and agencies, including:
- National Parks
- Environmental and Food Inspection
- Air Travel
- Health and Human Services
- USDA Rural Development programs
- Natural Resources Conservation Service
- State and local Farm Service Agency offices
- Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
- Federal training programs for state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies
- HUD fair housing activities
- Public lands, in most cases, would remain accessible, but without some services
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Small Business Administration (SBA) business loans
- WIC and SNAP benefits
- FEMA relief to restore the Midland Center for the Arts
- VA regional offices may close
However, many essential government services continue to operate during a shutdown, either because they are excepted from furloughs to ensure public safety and welfare or are funded outside of annual appropriations (such as mandatory spending programs or self-funded programs) . For example, Social Security checks will still be issued, Veterans Affairs facilities will remain open, and air traffic and airport personnel will still be on the job, even if without pay, unless employees begin to call in sick to work as they did during the last shutdown.
