Who Is Affected by a Government Shutdown?

Government shutdowns in the United States—triggered when Congress fails to pass funding bills—disrupt federal operations and ripple through everyday life. As of October 1, 2025, the nation has entered its latest shutdown, the first full one since 2019, stemming from partisan disputes over spending priorities. While not all services grind to a halt, the impacts are widespread, affecting workers, families, businesses, and vulnerable communities.

The article explores who is affected by a government shutdown, drawing on official contingency plans from agencies like the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and real-time reports to highlight key groups and sectors hit hardest.

Federal Employees: Furloughs and Delayed Pay

At the forefront are the roughly 2 million federal civilian employees, who face immediate uncertainty. During a shutdown:

• Furloughed Workers: About 60–70% (1.2–1.4 million) are sent home without pay, including non-essential staff at agencies like the Department of Education, EPA, and IRS. These employees perform “discretionary” roles, like policy analysis or administrative support.
• Excepted Employees: The remaining 30–40% (600,000–800,000) are deemed essential and continue working unpaid, including air traffic controllers, TSA screeners, and border patrol agents. They receive back pay once funding resumes, per a 2019 law.
• Impact: In the 2018–2019 shutdown, furloughed workers lost an average of $1,200 per week, leading to financial strain, credit damage, and mental health challenges. For 2025, with inflation lingering, the hit could be even steeper—many in D.C. and Virginia report dipping into savings or food banks.

Contractors and vendors (e.g., IT firms for the government) also feel the pinch, with payments delayed, affecting 100,000+ jobs.

Military Personnel and Veterans: Duty Continues, Pay Lags

The 1.3 million active-duty military members and 800,000 reservists remain on duty, protecting national security without interruption. However, they won’t receive paychecks until the shutdown ends, causing stress for families. Tricare healthcare and base operations continue, but non-essential training or upgrades pause.

Veterans (18 million) see minimal direct hits—VA hospitals stay open via prior funding, serving 9 million patients monthly. But new claims processing slows, delaying benefits for 1 million+ pending cases. In past shutdowns, VA hotlines saw 50% longer wait times.

Benefit Recipients: Mixed Stability

Millions relying on federal aid face varying degrees of disruption:

• Social Security and Medicare: Over 70 million beneficiaries receive uninterrupted payments—retirement, disability, and SSI flow via trust funds. Medicare covers 65 million seniors without lapse.
• SNAP (Food Stamps): 42 million recipients see benefits continue through March 2026 via pre-appropriated funds, but new applications and recertifications stall, risking future gaps.
• WIC (Women, Infants, and Children): This nutrition program for 6.7 million low-income families is hit hardest—clinics may close, and benefits expire after 30 days without funding, potentially affecting 1 million+ in the first month.
• Unemployment Insurance: States manage this, so it’s unaffected, but federal oversight pauses.
• Student Loans: Servicing continues (e.g., payments via Navient), but new forgiveness applications and IRS offsets halt.

Low-income families, especially in Republican-led states, bear the brunt, as ACA subsidies expiring end-2025 could compound costs by hundreds monthly without resolution.

National Parks, Museums, and Public Lands: Closures and Limited Access

National Parks Service sites—drawing 325 million visitors yearly—operate on limited funding:

• Iconic spots like Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon stay open but unstaffed, with no trash removal or emergency services, leading to vandalism and hazards (as in 2018–2019, when Yosemite saw $1 million in damage).
• Smithsonian museums (19 total) close immediately, canceling tours and events; the National Zoo’s animal cams go dark, though care continues.
• Public lands (e.g., BLM areas) restrict access, impacting hunters, campers, and $100 billion in outdoor recreation economy.

States like Colorado and California may fund partial operations, but rural economies reliant on tourism suffer most.

Small Businesses and the Economy: Delayed Contracts and Uncertainty

Small businesses holding federal contracts (e.g., IT services for NASA) face payment freezes, stalling 100,000+ jobs. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates a one-week shutdown costs $1.5 billion in lost output, with longer ones (like 35 days in 2019) adding $11 billion.

Broader ripple: Consumer confidence drops, delaying spending; stock markets dip (Dow fell 3% in 2018). Food banks and nonprofits see surges in demand as furloughed workers seek aid.

Immigration and Legal Systems: Processing Backlogs

USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services), fee-funded, continues most operations like green card interviews and naturalizations. However:

• E-Verify (work authorization checks) shuts down, forcing manual I-9 verifications for 1 million+ employers.
• Immigration courts (EOIR) halt non-essential hearings, delaying 2 million+ backlog cases.
• ICE enforcement persists with $29.9 billion in multi-year funding, but detention expansions slow.

Immigrants and employers face uncertainty, with 2025’s shutdown potentially exacerbating a 1.5 million case backlog.

Scientific Research and Public Health: Paused Projects

NIH and NSF furlough 90% of staff, halting new grants and trials—$1 billion in research lost per week. FDA continues drug reviews and food safety but stops routine inspections, risking outbreaks. CDC’s disease tracking slows, though core response teams stay active.

In 2019, 12,000 NIH studies paused, delaying cancer and COVID research—echoes could hit 2025’s AI health initiatives.

Practical Tips for Those Affected

• Federal Employees: Build an emergency fund (3–6 months’ expenses); use USA.gov for back-pay info.
• Benefit Recipients: Apply early for SNAP/WIC; monitor SSA.gov for alerts.
• Travelers: Check NPS app for park status; airports operate via FAA essential staff.
• Business Owners: Diversify clients; use SBA resources for shutdown loans.
• Immigrants: File USCIS forms pre-shutdown; consult free legal aid.

Common Questions Answered

• How long will it last? Varies—short (days) or prolonged (weeks); 2019’s 35 days was longest.
• Will I get back pay? Yes, for furloughed/excepted workers, per law.
• Air Travel? Safe—FAA/TSA essential; delays from furloughed inspectors possible.
• Taxes? IRS refunds continue, but audits pause.

Things to Avoid

Don’t hoard cash—markets recover post-shutdown. Avoid non-essential travel to parks. Don’t ignore alerts—check agency sites daily. Steer clear of partisan blame; focus on bipartisan funding solutions.

Tailoring to Your Situation

Federal Workers: Prioritize savings and side gigs. Families on Aid: Stock non-perishables. Businesses: Invoice aggressively. Immigrants: Prepare docs digitally. Adjust based on your vulnerability.

Read Are Social Security Payments Affected by a Government Shutdown?

Key Takeaways

A government shutdown affects federal employees (furloughs/delays), military/veterans (unpaid duty), benefit recipients (service backlogs), national parks/museums (closures), small businesses (contracts), immigration (processing), and research/health (pauses)—but essentials like Social Security and air travel continue. With 2 million workers and millions in aid at risk, the economic hit could reach billions. Stay informed via OMB.gov, build buffers, and advocate for resolution. Shutdowns disrupt, but preparation empowers—who’s impacted in your circle?