The US is staring down a partial government shutdown as the clock ticks toward Tuesday’s midnight deadline, with President Donald Trump and Congress still deadlocked over a spending bill. If no deal is struck, hundreds of thousands of federal employees deemed nonessential will be furloughed — and this time, Trump is warning he may go even further, threatening permanent layoffs. What cuts could follow remain unclear.The chamber rejected a Democratic proposal and then shot down a Republican House-passed stopgap measure that would have funded the government through November 21. With both parties trading blame and refusing to back down, Washington remains with no clear path out of a shutdown.As of Tuesday afternoon, at least 21 of the 23 largest federal agencies posted details about which employees they would furlough. Here is a guide to what would stay open and what would close in a govt shutdown, according to plans released so far:
What stays open
- The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the nation’s largest food aid programme, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC, would continue operations during a shutdown as funds allow, according to a shutdown planning document published by the US Department of Agriculture.
- The US Postal Service would be unaffected because it does not depend on Congress for funding, USPS said in a statement. Post offices will be open.
- The IRS would be fully staffed for five days, according to agency shutdown plans published Monday. The strategy does not say what the IRS, which lost about a quarter of its staff this year and now employs about 75,000 people, would do if the shutdown lasts longer than five business days.
- More than 13,000 air traffic controllers would continue working, but without pay until the shutdown ends, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Most TSA employees would continue working, according to an agency statement
- Last week, the federal judiciary warned that the courts could run out of money to fully sustain operations as soon as Friday if Congress fails to pass a spending bill. That is a shift. The courts sustained operations for five weeks when the govt shut down during Trump’s first term.
- The Social Security Administration would keep issuing retirement and disability benefits, but would furlough 12% of its staff and pause marketing campaigns, according to the agency’s shutdown plan. Payments would likewise continue under the Medicare and Medicaid healthcare programmes.
- Banks
- Federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, DEA and prison staff, will remain operational during a govt shutdown, officials confirmed. The Secret Service and Coast Guard will also continue their duties.
- In the military, all active-duty personnel will stay on the job. However, nearly half of the Department of War’s 741,477 civilian employees could face furloughs.
Services that may close during a govt shutdown
- National parks, although the NPS had not officially released a shutdown contingency plan by Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 30.
- Visitor centres and tours of federal govt buildings, including the US Capitol, White House and FBI Building, could be halted.
- Smithsonian museums may close in the event of an extended shutdown.
