What Happens When The Government Shuts Down?
What Happens When The Government Shuts Down?
Raquel Coronell Uribe Tue, September 30, 2025 NBC News
The federal government shut down Wednesday after lawmakers left the Capitol without passing a funding bill. Agencies and departments have issued guidance in recent days on what to expect when the money runs out.
Here’s what will happen during the shutdown.
How does a shutdown affect the military?
The majority of veteran benefits and military operations will continue to be funded regardless of a shutdown. However, pay for military and civilian workers will be delayed until a funding deal is reached, forcing them to continue their duties without pay.
Military personnel on active duty, including active guard reserves, will continue their duty. However, no new orders may be issued except for extenuating circumstances — such as disaster response or national security. Some National Guard members serving through federal funding could have their orders terminated unless performing an essential duty.
The Department of Veterans Affairs said it expects 97% of its employees to work, though regional offices will be closed. Some death benefits, such as the placement of permanent headstones at VA cemeteries, and ground maintenance, will cease. Also affected will be communication lines, including hotlines, emails, social media and responses to press inquiries.
How is air travel affected?
Air traffic control services will continue, allowing for 13,227 air traffic controllers to work through a shutdown — but without pay until the government is funded again. Other essential activities, such as the certification and oversight of commercial airplanes and engines will continue, as will limited air traffic safety oversight.
However, the Department of Transportation will stop air traffic controller hiring, field training of air traffic controllers, facility security inspections and law enforcement assistance support.
In a letter Monday, a coalition of aviation groups urged Congress to avoid a shutdown, saying funding lapses will hurt the Federal Aviation Administration. The letter cited the furloughing of many FAA employees, and said the ceasing of funding could create backlogs that will create delays in critical FAA services “long after funding resumes.”
“While air traffic controllers, technicians and other excepted aviation safety professionals will continue to work without pay, many of the employees who support them are furloughed, and the programs that the FAA uses to review and address safety events are suspended. To remain the world leader in aviation, we must continue to strive to improve efficiency and further mitigate risk,” the aviation groups wrote.
Will Social Security checks still go out?
Social Security benefits, considered mandatory under law, will continue regardless of a shutdown, so recipients can expect to continue receiving their payments. However, the Social Security Administration could face a furloughed workforce. Fewer workers could mean that processing new Social Security applications could be delayed.
How does the shutdown affect the Department of Health and Human Services?
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