During a government shutdown, federal agencies decide which employees will continue working and which services will continue at a regular level. Here is a list of what would stay open and what would shut down, according to agency shutdown plans:
What stays open:
- U.S. embassies and consulates
- Passport and visa processing (as long as there are sufficient fees to cover)
- Military personnel (2 million U.S. military personnel would remain at their posts)
- Air traffic and airport personnel
- Social Security checks
- Veterans Affairs facilities
- National Nuclear Security Administration
- Military Commissaries in the U.S. and abroad (for approximately 60 days into the new fiscal year without appropriations)
- Post offices
- DMV (funded by the state instead of the federal government)
- Public libraries and Washington government-operated public parks
- Federal courts (for at least two weeks)
- Federal employees deemed essential
- National parks (some may remain open, but may limit their hours and access to facilities like bathrooms depending on how long the shutdown continues)
- Smithsonian museums (have enough money on hand to stay open for about a week after a shutdown)
- National Zoo (have enough money on hand to stay open for about a week after a shutdown)
- State or local zoos that are not federally funded
- Low-risk food inspections
- All vital FDA activities related to imminent threats to the safety of human life
- The IRS (could partially close)
- Airports (with potential travel delays nationwide depending on how long the shutdown carries on)
What shuts down:
- Roughly half of the Pentagons 800,000 civilian employees would be furloughed
- Almost all workers would not be paid
- Contracts awarded before the shutdown would continue, but other new contracts, including renewals or extensions, would not be awarded
- Payments to defense contractors such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and RTX could be delayed
- Nutrition and food assistance programs could be paused
- Social services for some people
- National parks (some may be completely closed to visitors)
- Smithsonian museums (after about a week)
- National Zoo (after about a week)
- Small business loans (reviews and approvals of new loans would be paused)
- Military recruitment efforts
- White House tours
- U.S. Capitol Visitors Center (closed off to the public)
- Higher-risk food inspections for goods like meat (may continue, while lower-risk reviews on items like cookies and crackers may be delayed)
- Some educational institutions (aid could be severely curtailed)
- Federal employees deemed non-essential
