5 things about the US government shutdown: What's open, closed

Journey Burris, The Baltimore Sun on Oct 1, 2025

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For the first time in six years, the U.S. government shut down at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, after Congress failed to reach a funding agreement.

A shutdown doesn’t mean all government operations cease. According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s website, a certain number of programs are “excepted,” including “anything dealing with national defense, law enforcement and other activities involving the protection of life and property.” In addition, the OPM site said employees not paid from appropriated funds and those selected to handle shutdown operations, will continue to work.

Beyond that, numerous programs and services across the country have been impacted. Here’s a look at some of the changes.

Student loans, school funding

Federal student aid will continue to be distributed during the shutdown, and loan payments will still be due. The agency’s website states Pell Grants and Federal Direct student loans will be disbursed, along with all Title I and IDEA grant funding.

“States, schools and other grantees will continue to be able to access funds from the billions of dollars in recent awards the Department made over the summer,” the agency’s website states.

An estimated 9.9 million students attending 5,400 colleges and universities currently receive federal aid, according to the department’s numbers. The agency website says students will be able to use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, as well.

Some operations will be put on hold until the government starts back up, however. The agency’s contingency plan, detailed on the website, states civil rights complaint investigations will stop. Also, the agency will not approve any new grants for school districts during the shutdown. This won’t have an immediate impact, as most federal funds are given to schools over the summer. As mentioned, all Title I funds, money given to schools with a high concentration of students in poverty, will continue. The same goes for money given to districts through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

National Parks

Visitors can still access national parks during the shutdown, but services will be minimal. The Department of the Interior announced that roads, trails, and open-air memorials will remain open. However, roughly 64% of National Park Service employees are furloughed, leaving restrooms unmaintained and visitor centers closed.

In the contingency plan outlined on their website, it stated at all national parks, “no visitor services will be provided. The NPS will not issue permits, conduct interpretive or educational programs, collect trash, operate or provide restrooms, maintain roads and walkways.”

While there will be no services, all “park roads, lookouts, trails, and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to visitors,” the website states.

Air Traffic Control

Air traffic control operations will continue through the shutdown, keeping 13,000+ controllers on duty, though unpaid. Certification, safety inspections, and training programs are paused. FAA employee furloughs may lead to long-term delays in aviation safety operations, according to NBC News. A coalition of aviation groups warned that interruptions could persist even after funding is restored.

Smithsonian Museums and the National Zoo

All Smithsonian museums, including the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., have closed to the public due to the shutdown, as they rely on federal funding. However, staff will continue to care for the animals. Livestream animal cams have been turned off, since they require federally supported staffing and are deemed non-essential, according to the Smithsonian’s Government Shutdown FAQ.

Federal workers

Over one million members of the U.S. military are now working without pay. While overseas military commissaries remain open, many domestic base services are either closed or running at reduced capacity.

Although essential operations and most veteran benefits will continue, military and civilian personnel will not receive paychecks until funding is restored. Troops could miss their next paycheck if the shutdown extends beyond October 15, according to Politico. Food safety inspectors from the Agriculture Department will stay on duty at meat and poultry facilities, but without pay. The FDA will scale back preventative food safety activities as part of its contingency measures.

As mentioned, nothing changes for law enforcement. In a statement posted on their website and social media, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said “FBI operations will continue even during a lapse in appropriations. All FBI employees are considered excepted due to the critical support that FBI personnel (HQ, field, and legal attaché) provide to address imminent threats to human life and property through our national security and law enforcement mission.”

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