September 29, 2025
We are just a few hours away from a government shutdown. So what can you expect if it actually happens this time?
First – you have to understand a government shut down is not random. It’s scheduled. And if it happens, it doesn’t mean the US government is broke and it doesn’t mean the government has no money. The US government has plenty of money. If the government shuts down it means congress failed to do the one job it has. See — the US government runs on a fiscal calendar from October 1 through September 30th. And every single year it is congress’s job to find a way to fund the government before the fiscal year ends. That means it’s congress’s job to figure out how much money each department and agency will get in their budget and figure out which priorities will be funded and which will not. And if September 30th comes and there is no spending plan approved by both the House and the Senate and signed by the president, no government agencies or department get their budget allotments, so they don’t have money to operate, they have to close and the government shuts down. And tomorrow is September 30th – and we are not even in the ballpark of a deal.
Ok – now that you know *how government shutdowns happen, let’s talk about *what* happens when the government shutdown. In a shutdown, the federal government must stop all non-essential functions until a spending bill is passed. Each agency and department determines what work is essential and what is not. And in this trump administration the executive branch through the office of budget and management also has a big say. The federal workers who are considered non-essential will be furloughed and agencies and departments that are considered non-essential will be closed.
Instead of running down a list of what is considered non essential and will be shutdown because it’s a huge list – it’s actually a much easier to tell you what is considered essential and will be staying open. Social Security, Medicare, Veterans Benefits, military operations, law enforcement, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and air traffic control – those departments will stay open….however! Depending on how long the shutdown lasts — the people who work at those departments and agencies may have to go to work without pay.
The longer the shutdown lasts – the worst things get. Usually – almost immediately after the government shuts down the national parks will close. So if you have a trip planned to see one of our beautiful national parks – you may want to reschedule. And if the shutdown lasts more than a few days passport processing could slow down or stop. Federal courts – including immigration courts could start postponing or canceling hearings and some federal government contractors may not get paid. Your payments from social security, disability, Medicare, Medicaid will still be processed and the post office will stay open, however some of the federal employees who work at those places are considered non-essential so if you’re looking to get at help at those places or want to process new disability or social security claim – or have questions about your existing benefits – getting those answers may become difficult.
The White House used to keep a department by department list of shutdown plans but now this Trump administration says each agency and department will post their own shutdown plans – which I will email as many of them out to you as a can in my factshq email tonight so make sure you sign yourself up.
The last time the government shutdown was in 2018 and 2019 during the first Trump administration. Back then the government shutdown for 35 days that was the longest shutdown in 40 years. The standoff – in congress back then – was over Trump’s demand for almost $6 billion dollars to fund his border wall project. Lawmakers in the house and senate fought over that money for 35 days. But — the shutdown cost the American economy billions of dollars and after five weeks, former President Trump ultimately signed a spending plan did not include the funding he wanted for the wall.
These days – the issues Democrats and Republicans are fighting over are much different but in the end Republicans control the House, Senate and White House so it’s on them to keep the government open. And because of the rules of the Senate – coming up with a funding plan must be negotiated with the Democrats because Republicans do not have enough votes to pass what President Trump wants on their own.
Dept. of Defense Shutdown Contingency Plan here.
Health & Human Services Shutdown Contingency Plan here.
Veterans Affairs Shutdown Contingency Plan here.
Dept. of Education Shutdown Contingency Plan here.
Homeland Security Shutdown Contingency Plan here.
Dept. of Justice Shutdown Contingency Plan here.
Treasury Dept. Shutdown Contingency Plan here.
