The impact of this shutdown will be especially visible in the government’s largest agencies. At the Department of Homeland Security, more than 250,000 workers are required to continue working without pay, including border patrol officers and TSA agents. At the Department of Health and Human Services, about 32,460 employees—roughly 41 percent of its workforce—will be furloughed, according to Reuters. The Federal Aviation Administration is also affected, with over 11,000 workers sent home while approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers continue to work without pay.
Although many programs will pause operations, key social programs are expected to continue. Social Security and Medicare benefits will still be distributed, the Postal Service will remain open, and veterans will continue receiving health care and disability payments. SNAP food assistance is not expected to be impacted in the immediate term, though a prolonged shutdown could place pressure on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s reserves, AARP reports.
Guidance for Federal Workers
The Office of Personnel Management provides shutdown guidance to help federal employees understand their pay status and responsibilities during a funding lapse. For federal contractors, the National Law Review advises confirming the status of contracts and exploring possible options for compensation if work is disrupted.
Furloughed federal employees may qualify for state unemployment insurance through the Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees program. However, excepted employees who are required to keep working during the shutdown generally have fewer options. Many are left relying on personal savings until the government is funded again.
Federal Workers Face Tough Uncertainty
The shutdown leaves a wide range of federal employees and contractors facing financial instability. While many will eventually receive back pay, others, particularly contractors and excepted employees, face immediate challenges without clear guarantees. With large agencies affected and essential workers required to continue without pay, the disruption highlights the far-reaching consequences of a funding lapse.
