As a result of the U.S. government shutting down on Oct. 1, 2025, certain federal employees will work without pay, while others will be temporarily furloughed.
In the past, these workers have typically received back pay after a shutdown ends. Under President Donald Trump, however, the White House is warning of potential mass layoffs.
As of this writing — the third day of the shutdown on Oct. 3 — many people searched Google to learn how, or to what extent, the staffing changes will impact federal agencies and services. Popular searches focused on whether post offices, DMVs and national parks will remain open, and if the shutdown will affect Social Security benefit payments or air travel, among other concerns.
Below is a guide to what remains open and what is closed, as well as which government services will be impacted if the shutdown continues.
Social Security
The federal budget classifies Social Security benefits as "mandatory spending," which means they receive funding without annual approval from Congress.
As a result, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments continue without interruption during a shutdown. The Social Security Administration (SSA) said in a statement on Oct. 1 that payments to benefit holders will arrive on time.
While a government shutdown does not affect Social Security payments, other services the agency provides could still be disrupted. Federal law considers the SSA's administrative budget "discretionary spending," which does require annual approval from Congress.
Local Social Security offices will remain open during the shutdown but will "provide reduced services,"
The SSA statement says the agency can help people do the following during the shutdown:
- Apply for benefits
- Request an appeal
- Change your address or direct deposit information
- Report a death
- Verify or change your citizenship status
- Replace a lost or missing Social Security payment
- Obtain a critical payment
- Change a representative payee
- Make a change in your living arrangement or income (SSI recipients only)
- Obtain a new or replacement Social Security card
However, the SSA stressed it cannot guarantee full in-person service. For example, the agency said it cannot provide proof of benefits letters, or change people's earnings records, until the government resumes normal operations.
Medicare and Medicaid
Like Social Security benefits, the federal budget also considers Medicare "mandatory spending." That means recipients can still receive medical care and fill their prescriptions without interruption during the shutdown, according to the AARP.
Additionally, people who are turning 65 years old or have qualifying disabilities can still apply for Medicare during the shutdown, according to AARP.
Medicaid benefits, which state and federal governments jointly fund, will also continue during the shutdown. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said it has sufficient funding to support Medicaid through 2025.
However, the staffing changes may delay some services. People could face longer wait times when calling
SNAP and WIC
Recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are expected to receive October benefits as scheduled, according to The Arc, an organization that serves people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
But SNAP funding could be depleted if the shutdown continues for an extended period, potentially delaying future payments, according to the AARP.
If SNAP funding expires, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) typically has some reserve funding that it can carry over to cover benefit payments for a limited time, Gina Plata-Nino, interim SNAP director for the nonprofit Food Research & Action Center, told AARP.
A prolonged shutdown could also affect the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, more commonly known as WIC, The Arc said.
Georgia Machell, president and CEO of the National WIC Association, said in a statement on Sept. 30 that "WIC has enough funding on hand to remain open for the short term — likely one to two weeks." However, Machell said the "timing of this shutdown at the start of the new fiscal year puts WIC at risk of rapidly running out of funds."
Veterans benefits
Benefit payments distributed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will not be interrupted during the shutdown, the AARP said. The VA will continue processing and delivering disability compensation, pensions, housing aid and education (GI Bill) benefits.
While benefit payments won't stop, past shutdowns have delayed the checks. AARP encouraged people to report any late payments to the VA so the agency can investigate the issue.
In addition to benefit payments, VA hospitals, clinics and counseling centers will continue providing services; interments at veterans cemeteries will continue, and some
However, some regional benefits offices and call centers will be closed during the shutdown.
Airports
Airports will remain open during the government shutdown. Essential workers including Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents, air traffic controllers, and other aviation safety professionals will continue working without pay.
However, a prolonged shutdown could cause delays for travelers.
In an Oct. 1 X post, the TSA said "an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports." Some airports have also warned their customers of potential disruptions.
During the
Post offices
All post offices will remain open, and mail will arrive as usual during the government shutdown.
Government shutdowns do not affect the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) because it is an independent agency that generally operates without taxpayer funding. Instead, the Postal Service operates with money from the sales of its services and products, such as stamps and shipping supplies.
DMVs
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices throughout the country will remain open during the shutdown.
Since state budgets primarily fund motor vehicle departments, they don't rely on annual funding from Congress.
National parks
According to the U.S. Department of the Interior's September 2025 contingency plan, many national parks will remain at least partially open during the government shutdown. "Park roads, lookouts, trails and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to visitors," the plan stated.
However, the open sites may have fewer staff people and visitor services during the shutdown. Parks with
Other parks will be closed, according to the plan.
Past government shutdowns significantly impacted park operations. During the
Student loans and FAFSA
During the 2025 government shutdown, the Department of Education will continue dispersing student aid such as Pell Grants and Federal Direct student loans, according to the agency's contingency plan. The department will require student loan borrowers to keep making payments.
The department also plans to continue processing Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the document said.
IRS
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees will continue working during the shutdown — at least temporarily.
According to a shutdown contingency plan released on Sept. 29, the IRS will use funding from the 2022
It's unclear what will happen if the shutdown extends beyond five days.
The Internal Revenue Service will continue operations under the current lapse in appropriations through midnight on Tuesday, Oct. 7, using funding from 2022 legislation.
IRS operations will continue during this time with IRS offices maintaining regular hours, on-line self-service help tools available and other services continuing as usual. Taxpayers should continue to meet any federal tax filing or payment obligations as normal.
Previous government shutdowns disrupted IRS operations, affecting services ranging from loan approvals to tax refunds.
When the government is shut down, the IRS cannot verify income and Social Security numbers, according to the CRFB. During the 2013 shutdown, for instance, a backlog of 1.2 million verification requests led to delays in loan approvals. The backlog also delayed b
