Lawmakers in Washington, D.C. failed to reach an agreement to keep the federal government open, and a shutdown began in the middle of last week.
Now, millions of Americans who depend on federal services are uncertain about what will continue and what won’t.
During previous shutdowns, the Office of Management and Budget website served as a central hub for information about agency contingency plans. This time, the White House is directing folks to visit individual agency websites for updates.
Despite the uncertainty, contingency plans are in place to maintain many critical services, particularly if the shutdown is brief.
Here’s what Americans can expect to continue operating for now.
Social Security benefits
Retirement, disability and Supplemental Security Income payments will be distributed on schedule. Social Security operates through a separate funding mechanism independent of most federal spending, and payroll taxes will continue to be collected.
Local offices will remain open but with reduced services. People can still apply for benefits, update addresses or banking information and request Social Security cards. But you won’t be able to obtain proof of benefits letters or correct earnings records during the shutdown.
Medicare and Medicaid
Health care services for Medicare and Medicaid enrollees will continue without interruption. The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that Children’s Health Insurance Program payments to states will proceed as planned.
Some administrative functions, such as mailing Medicare cards, may experience delays due to staff furloughs.
Mail delivery
The U.S. Postal Service will maintain normal operations. All post offices will remain open and mail delivery will continue as usual because the independent agency operates without relying on annual appropriations from Congress.
SNAP benefits
October benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will be distributed to states as scheduled. The Department of Agriculture has contingency funds available for state disbursements, though the duration of these funds remains unclear.
A prolonged shutdown could potentially affect future benefits.
Student aid
The Department of Education will continue disbursing Pell grants and federal student loans using funding sources unaffected by the shutdown.
Processing of Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), fund disbursements and student loan servicing will all proceed normally. Student loan borrowers in repayment will also need to make their regular payments.
Passport and visa services
Consular operations both domestically and abroad will remain operational. Americans can continue to apply for passports and visas, and citizens abroad will still receive assistance.
Some domestic support functions for consular operations will be suspended.
Federal courts
The federal judiciary will continue operations through Oct. 17, using court fee balances and other non-appropriated funds. Most court proceedings and filing deadlines will occur as scheduled, and the electronic case filing system will remain operational.
If executive branch attorneys are not working due to the shutdown, some hearings and filing dates may be rescheduled. Should the shutdown extend beyond Oct. 17, courts would operate under the Anti-Deficiency Act, which permits essential work to continue.
Weather services
The National Weather Service will maintain round-the-clock operations nationwide, including all U.S. states and territories.
Patent and trademark services
The United States Patent and Trademark Office operates on fee-based funding and is expected to remain operational throughout the shutdown.
National security
Critical national security operations will continue without interruption.
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