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WASHINGTON − As President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats clash over government spending, a partial government shutdown looms Oct. 1.
Partisan spending disputes occasionally shut down parts of the government for a few days or a few weeks. Traditionally, "essential" workers such as military troops or air-traffic controllers are exempt from a shutdown, while visitors to national parks notice custodial workers are "nonessential" and trash piles up.
The stakes are higher for federal workers because the White House is considering layoffs rather than temporary furloughs. In past shutdowns, workers were paid back for their time off when the funding dispute was resolved, but it's not clear that will happen this time.
Trump is scheduled to meet on Sept. 29 at the White House with the four top GOP and Democratic leaders in Congress as the deadline approaches. Here's what to know about the potential shutdown:
What will be affected by the shutdown?
During a government shutdown, all federal agencies and services that officials do not deem "essential" must stop working.
Essential services include the U.S. Postal Service, Medicare and Social Security services and air-traffic control.
"Nonessential" work, however, must pause, which affects thousands of federal employees and millions of Americans. National parks closed during past shutdowns or were kept open with state help – but with fewer services like trash pickup.
Will Social Security checks go out?
The Social Security Administration is projected to pay out $1.6 trillion to 72 million beneficiaries this year, making it a vital economic lifeline for much of the country.
A shutdown won’t disrupt those payments.
Social Security is a mandatory spending program that is not subject to annual appropriations. However, staffing and some services could be impacted if they have a discretionary spending component, according to the Committee for a Responsible Budget, a nonprofit that studies federal fiscal policy.
What happens to Medicare and Medicaid during a shutdown?
The federal Medicare and Medicaid health insurance programs also are considered mandatory spending, meaning benefits won’t be impacted if the government shuts down.
Nearly 71 million people were enrolled in Medicaid for lower-income families and the disabled as of May 2025. And 69 million enrolled in Medicare for the elderly.
Will national parks close in a shutdown?
National parks could be significantly impacted by a shutdown. Park funding is appropriated by Congress, leaving the park system vulnerable if lawmakers can’t reach a deal.
During the 35-day shutdown in December 2018 and January 2019, some national parks closed completely. Many stayed open, some with help from state governments, but "no visitor services were provided, and damage and trash buildup were reported at many sites," according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
A contingency plan created by the National Park Service for a potential 2023 shutdown stated: "In general, National Park Service sites will be closed during the period of a lapse in appropriations. This means that the majority of National Park sites will be closed completely to public access."
Will federal workers get paid?
Traditionally, federal workers get paid after being furloughed temporarily for shutdowns. But the Office of Management and Budget asked federal agencies on Sept. 24 to draft plans for permanent layoffs.
"Programs that did not benefit from an infusion of mandatory appropriations will bear the brunt of a shutdown," the memo said.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said the threat was meant to scare workers.
Is airline travel through FAA and TSA affected by a shutdown?
Air travel continues during a shutdown. The Federal Aviation Administration's air-traffic control system and the Transportation Security Administration are considered essential.
But workers don't get paid during the shutdown, which can lead to delays when workers don't show up for shifts. Geoff Freeman, CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, said an estimated $1 billion per week is lost to the travel economy due to disruptions in air and rail travel, and closures of parks and museums.
"The consequences of inaction are immediate and severe," Freeman said in a letter Sept. 25 to congressional leaders.
During the shutdown in December 2018 and January 2019, some TSA checkpoints were closed and travelers faced longer lines when agents didn't report to work, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. The absence of 10 controllers temporarily halted flights at New York's LaGuardia airport and caused delays at others.
What happens to food benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program during a shutdown?
SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps, also are considered mandatory spending but can be impacted by shutdowns.
The continuing resolutions – bills that continue government funding at current levels − that have been used to fund the government generally only allow the Agriculture Department to send out SNAP benefits "for 30 days after a shutdown begins," according to the Committee for a Responsible Budget.
"During the 2018-2019 shutdown, the USDA paid February SNAP benefits early on January 20, just before the 30-day window ended, but it would have been unable to pay March benefits had the shutdown continued," the group said.
How long could the shutdown last?
The federal government has partially closed down 21 times for a total of 162 days since 1977. That's an average of nearly eight days per shutdown.
The longest government shutdown lasted 35 days. Spanning from Dec. 22, 2018 to Jan. 25, 2019, it is also the most recent federal shutdown in U.S. history.
It was the third federal shutdown to occur during the Trump administration; the first lasted three days in January 2018, and the second lasted only a few hours in February 2018.
The second longest government shutdown occurred during the Clinton administration. It lasted 21 days from Dec. 16, 1995, to Jan. 6, 1996.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What's open or closed in a federal government shutdown? Here are the answers
Reporting by Bart Jansen and Zac Anderson, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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