When the federal government shuts down, the country does not stop entirely, but it shifts into an uneven rhythm where essential services continue and many others pause. The latest lapse in funding has again highlighted the fragile balance between what is considered critical to public safety and what can wait until lawmakers reach a deal.
Military operations exemplify this tension. Active-duty personnel remain on duty, as do many Guard and Reserve members, because national security cannot pause. Yet paychecks are withheld until funding resumes, placing immediate financial strain on service members and civilian defense employees. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 97% of its employees are expected to continue working, though regional offices close and certain services, such as death benefits and cemetery maintenance, are suspended. Communication channels like hotlines and press responses are also reduced.
Air travel continues with similar compromises. Air traffic controllers and safety personnel remain at their posts, ensuring flights operate, but without pay. Hiring, training, and oversight functions are frozen. A coalition of aviation groups warned in a letter to Congress that each funding lapse creates backlogs at the Federal Aviation Administration, adding that “delays in critical FAA services” could affect safety and modernization long after the shutdown ends.
For retirees and the disabled, Social Security payments are protected by law and will continue without interruption. However, with a reduced workforce, the processing of new applications and services is slowed. The safety net holds, but delays become unavoidable.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) experiences significant disruption. While critical operations such as pandemic response, clinical services at the National Institutes of Health, and Medicare and Medicaid oversight continue, tens of thousands of employees are furloughed. Research grants freeze, and NIH cannot admit new patients unless medically necessary. HHS has said in its contingency plan that more than 32,000 of its nearly 80,000 employees will be furloughed until funding resumes. The Food and Drug Administration maintains its role in monitoring recalls and foodborne illness outbreaks, but reviews of new drugs, devices, and long-term food safety initiatives stop. Certain animal feed safety checks are also halted, creating concerns about the food supply chain.
Students see mixed effects. Pell Grants and federal student loans continue to be disbursed, protecting access to education for millions. Yet about 95% of Education Department staff outside of student aid are furloughed, halting new grant-making and slowing the resolution of administrative issues. Borrowers must continue making payments, with limited federal staff available to provide assistance.
Public health monitoring narrows. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to track and respond to outbreaks, but it loses much of its ability to support state and local health departments. Programs targeting issues such as opioid overdoses or diabetes prevention are suspended, leaving gaps in guidance and data analysis.
For everyday life, the effects become more visible in public spaces. National parks remain partially open, but with limited staffing. Trails, roads, and open-air sites stay accessible, while visitor centers and monuments that require staff are closed. Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo remain open temporarily using prior-year funds, though animal live streams are turned off.
Nutrition programs like SNAP and WIC continue for now, but only as long as contingency funds last. That uncertainty leaves millions of households watching closely for updates.
Across agencies, one reality is consistent: essential workers remain on the job without pay until the shutdown ends, while furloughed staff eventually receive back pay. Members of Congress and the president, however, continue to be paid without interruption, reflecting the uneven nature of the shutdown’s impact.
The post The Dynamics Of A Shutdown: What Keeps Running And What Comes To A Halt appeared first on International Business Times.
