What Happens During a US Government Shutdown? AP Explains

Essential Services Continue

• 🛡️ FBI investigators, CIA officers, air traffic controllers, and airport security agents would continue working during a shutdown.
• 🎖️ Members of the armed forces would also continue their duties but would not receive pay until funding is restored.
• 🏥 Most operations concerning veterans affairs, including healthcare and benefit distribution, would proceed as normal.

Impact on Government Agencies

• 📉 The Department of Health and Human Services plans to furlough approximately 41% of its staff, impacting nearly 80,000 employees.
• 🦠 While the CDC will continue monitoring disease outbreaks, public communications will be significantly reduced.
• 🏥 The National Institutes of Health will only admit new patients to its clinical center if medically necessary.
• 🎓 The Department of Education intends to furlough nearly 1,500 employees, with federal student aid workers continuing their roles.
• 🏞️ The National Park Service will close parks with facilities or areas inaccessible during non-business hours, with variable staffing at parks where access cannot be restricted.

Potential for Mass Firings

• ⚠️ The White House's Office of Management and Budget has threatened more aggressive action, including mass firings of federal workers, which would be a departure from previous shutdowns where furloughed workers returned to their jobs.