In a report dated October 1, 2025, if President Trump and Congress fail to reach an agreement on the spending bill by midnight on Tuesday, September 30, the U.S. government will partially shut down, affecting some government services and functions. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees deemed “non-essential” for protecting the public and property will be forced to take unpaid leave.
This impending shutdown will differ from past government closures. The Trump administration has indicated that if Congress fails to pass a bill to avoid a government shutdown, authorities will use this opportunity to further reduce the federal workforce.
Russ Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget at the White House, stated in a television interview, “We will look for opportunities to downsize the federal government.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, out of 23 major federal agencies, at least 21 have released details on which employees will be furloughed. Based on the plans released thus far, here is a guide outlining which departments will remain open and which will close during the government shutdown:
Congress annually writes detailed spending bills for most U.S. government agencies but rarely manages to complete them before the start of the fiscal year on October 1. Legislators typically pass temporary spending bills to avoid days or weeks of chaos before final legislation is completed.
The current temporary measure is set to expire on September 30. It seems unlikely that Republicans and Democrats will reach an agreement on some kind of extension before midnight on Tuesday, which would then need to be signed into law by Trump. This would mean that most government departments will lack funding to continue operations.
According to the shutdown plan from the Social Security Administration (SSA), retirement and disability benefits will continue to be distributed, but 12% of employees will be furloughed, and marketing and outreach activities will be suspended, as per the agency’s shutdown plan.
Funding under Medicare and Medicaid will also continue.
As per a plan released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the largest food assistance programs in the U.S., the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), will continue to operate during the shutdown as funding permits.
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) stated in a release that it will not be affected as it does not rely on congressional appropriations and will continue its operations as usual.
According to the shutdown plan released on Monday, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will have all employees working for the first five business days.
The strategy does not specify how operations will proceed if the shutdown extends beyond five days. The IRS workforce is currently about a quarter smaller than last year, with approximately 75,000 employees.
A spokesperson for the agency declined to comment.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that over 13,000 air traffic controllers will continue working but will not be paid until the shutdown ends. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) stated that most of its employees will also continue working.
Last week, the Department of Justice warned that if Congress fails to pass a spending bill, courts may not have enough funding to maintain full operations as early as this Friday.
This marks a shift. During Trump’s first term, the courts operated for five weeks during a government shutdown.
The Department of Defense stated that 2 million U.S. military personnel will remain at their posts but will not be paid until the shutdown is over.
National Guard troops deployed in American cities by Trump must also continue their duties.
Contracts already awarded will continue to be executed, and the Department of Defense may issue new orders for goods or services as needed to protect national security.
Agents from the FBI, DEA, U.S. Coast Guard, and other federal law enforcement agencies will continue working.
As per the Department of Justice statement, due to Trump declaring illegal immigration a national emergency, Justice Department personnel responsible for operating the immigration court system will remain in their positions. The statement also mentioned that employees handling immigration arrest matters with local officials will continue their work.
The Department of Homeland Security’s shutdown plan outlines that border patrol and immigration enforcement officers will remain on duty, as will most customs officials. Tariffs will continue to be collected according to this strategy.
The release of vital U.S. economic data crucial to decision-makers and investors, including employment and GDP reports, will be temporarily halted.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) stated in a release that 24% of its employees will be furloughed. The agency will not approve new loans for purchasing equipment or upgrading buildings during the shutdown, but loans to aid businesses in disaster recovery will continue to be disbursed.
As of September 15, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reportedly has approximately $2.3 billion in its Disaster Relief Fund, indicating its ability to operate in case of hurricanes or other natural disasters. According to the agency, about 4,000 FEMA employees will be furloughed.
(This article referenced relevant reports from Reuters)