Here’s what stays open and available during a federal government shutdown
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Social Security, Medicare, and VA benefits will continue despite shutdown risk
- Essential federal services like military, TSA, and mail will operate without pay
- Shutdown may disrupt federal agency support services and delay air travel
The federal government shutdown that began Wednesday morning is not actually a complete shutdown.
Social Security and veterans’ benefits will continue. Law enforcement will stay on duty. Medicare won’t shut down. Mail will be delivered.
Some programs, such as Social Security and Medicare, are not subject to annual funding because their budgets cover several years or they have permanent funding.
Some functions, such as the military, remain active since they’re considered essential.
“Military personnel on active duty, including reserve component personnel on Federal active duty, will continue to report for duty and carry out assigned duties,” the Pentagon said in its contingency plan..
But much of the government shut down at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday as Congress and President Donald Trump were unable to agree on a funding plan.
There’s no easy way to predict when the shutdown will end. But this much is known. These functions will go on:
Social Security
California’s 6.4 million beneficiaries will continue to get their monthly payments.
Social Security is considered “mandatory spending,” immune from any government budget fight.
“The system hasn’t missed a payment in its entire 90-year history and won’t start now,” said Max Richtman, President & CEO of the nonpartisan National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare.
One big potential problem, though: “Customer service at the Social Security Administration may be disrupted, including benefit verifications, earnings record corrections and updates, overpayments processing, and replacing Medicare cards,” he said.
The level of service depends on how many, if any, administration employees remain on the job.
Medicare and Medicaid
The federal health program for people 65 and over as well as some others will keep making medical payments.
Medi-Cal, the state-federal program generally for lower income people, will also continue payments.
But anyone needing help from staff for the same sort of service described above for Social Security could find the going rougher.
Air travel
The Department of Homeland Security said Monday virtually all Transportation Security Administration employees will keep working. though without pay. Air traffic controllers would also stay on the job.
There were warnings about possible problems.
“A shutdown exacerbates staffing shortages among Transportation Security Administration officers and air traffic controllers, threatening longer airport security lines, flight delays, and cancellations,” said Geoff Freeman, CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, in a letter to congressional leaders..
“It halts hiring and training of new air traffic controllers when we are already short more than 2,800 controllers nationwide, and restarting the process adds further delays even after funding is restored,” Freeman said.
Unemployment benefits
Unemployment in California is managed by the state’s Economic Development Department, which would continue paying benefits during a shutdown.
“We do receive federal funds to support the administration of the program but don’t anticipate any impact on our ability to pay benefits at this point,” said EDD spokeswoman Loree Levy.
Federal workers with questions an go to EDD’s Unemployment Benefits for Federal Workers webpage. “We would simply add some more details to it if a shutdown occurs and furloughs follow,” Levy said.
“U.S. Postal Service operations will not be interrupted in the event of a government shutdown, and all Post Offices will remain open for business as usual,” the Postal Service said in a statement.
“Because we are an independent entity that is generally funded through the sale of our products and services, and not by tax dollars, our services will not be impacted by a government shutdown,” it said.
Veterans benefits
VA medical centers, outpatient clinics, and veteran centers will be “open as usual and providing all services,” the Department of Veterans Affairs said Monday.
It said benefits “will continue to be processed and delivered, including compensation, pension, education, and housing benefits,” and burials will continue at VA national cemeteries. Applications for headstones, markers, and burial benefits processing will continue.
Staying open: The VA’s primary call center, its veterans crisis line, suicide prevention programs, homelessness services, and caregiver support.
This story was originally published September 29, 2025 at 9:58 AM with the headline "Here’s what stays open and available during a federal government shutdown."
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