Here's how a government shutdown affects student loan payments

The Brief

The U.S. Department of Education says many of its core operations will continue despite a government shutdown – though 87% of its workforce will be furloughed.

The government officially shut down overnight after Congress failed to pass a funding measure before the 12 a.m. Wednesday deadline. When this happens, many federal services pause, federal workers are furloughed, and Americans may feel ripple effects across daily life.

Here’s what it means for the Department of Education.

Government shutdown starts: Here's what closes during a shutdown

Will the shutdown affect student loan payments?

What they're saying:

Student loan borrowers must continue making payments, even during a shutdown, as student aid will be largely unaffected in the short term, according to the departm