Open vs. Closed: What's the Difference?

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The U.S. government services are currently experiencing disruptions until President Donald Trump and Congress reach an agreement on a budget. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees have been instructed not to work, as they are deemed non-essential for safeguarding people and property.

This particular government shutdown is different from previous ones because Trump has warned he may terminate more federal jobs if lawmakers fail to pass legislation to prevent the closures. As of Wednesday morning, his administration hadn’t specified what budget cuts might be implemented.

White House budget director Russ Vought stated on Tuesday, “We will be seeking opportunities” to shrink the size of the federal government during a televised interview.

Here’s what remains operational and what closes during this shutdown, based on federal agency disclosures:

Why and when did the shutdown occur?
Congress typically drafts detailed spending bills each year, but they rarely finish before the fiscal year begins on October 1. To prevent disruptions, lawmakers usually pass temporary funding measures. The current stopgap expired last September 30, and no agreement has been reached to extend it, leaving many government functions unfunded.

What about Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid?
The Social Security Administration will continue issuing retirement and disability benefits but will furlough about 12% of its staff and suspend marketing efforts. Medicare and Medicaid payments will proceed as usual.

Will food assistance programs like SNAP and WIC keep operating?
Yes, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, SNAP and WIC will continue running as long as funds last.

Are mail services affected?
No. The U.S. Postal Service isn’t reliant on congressional funding, so mail delivery and post office operations continue without interruption.

What about the Internal Revenue Service?
The IRS will be fully staffed for the first five days of the shutdown. Beyond that, the agency hasn’t provided guidance, but with approximately 75,000 employees, it’s unclear what would happen if the shutdown extends longer.

Are airports still functioning?
Over 13,000 air traffic controllers and most TSA officers will keep working without pay until the shutdown ends, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Is the federal court system still operating?
There’s a risk courts could run out of funding after October 17, though during a shutdown earlier in Trump’s term, courts managed to operate for about five weeks.

What about the military?
The 2 million active-duty military personnel will remain on duty without pay until funding resumes. National Guard units deployed in U.S. cities will also continue operations. Existing contracts will remain in force, and the Department of Defense can place new orders for essential supplies and services.

Will law enforcement agencies remain active?
Yes. Agencies like the FBI, DEA, Coast Guard, and others will continue their duties.

What about border security and homeland defense?
Most staff involved in immigration enforcement—such as border patrol and related officials—will stay on duty. The Department of Homeland Security plans to keep most customs and immigration enforcement operational, including tariff collections.

Does a shutdown impact economic data releases?
Yes, key reports on employment, gross domestic product, and other vital economic indicators are expected to be delayed.

How does this affect small businesses?
The Small Business Administration will furlough about 24% of its workforce and won’t process new loans for equipment or renovations, though disaster recovery loans will proceed.

In the event of a natural disaster?
FEMA has roughly $2.3 billion remaining in its Disaster Relief Fund and can operate through natural disasters like hurricanes, although approximately 4,000 FEMA employees will be furloughed.

This summary reflects the current state of operations amid the partial government shutdown as agencies continue to manage their respective responsibilities with varying levels of staffing and funding.