U.S. Government Inches Towards Shutdown

The federal government may close its doors on October 1 if lawmakers fail to agree on a funding package. A lapse would halt large portions of government operations, furlough hundreds of thousands of federal employees, and disrupt services ranging from small business loans to national park access.

What’s the Scoop?

• Shutdown Showdown: By the end of today, Congress must pass an annual spending bills or stopgap continuing resolution to fund government agencies. With no deal in place, money runs out at 12:01 A.M. EST on Wednesday.
• Affected Services: Federal agencies will scale back or halt services. “Essential” workers like TSA agents, air traffic controllers, and military personnel will continue working without pay until funding resumes.
• Programs at Risk: SNAP and WIC food benefits could see interruptions if the shutdown is prolonged. Federal housing loan approvals, SBA small business loans, and certain disaster relief projects would stop entirely.
• Programs Still Running: Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and USPS should continue largely unaffected, though customer support and new card processing may slow or pause.
• Travel and Tourism: Airports will remain open but delays could rise with unpaid staff. Passport and visa services should continue, but tours of the Capitol, White House, and other federal buildings will be canceled. National parks may remain open with limited services.
• Potential Firings: The Trump Administration has pledged "mass firings" in the event of a government shutdown. Hundreds of thousands of government employees are already set to resign under the "Deferred Resignation Program" ahead of the funding deadline.