Which Agencies Are Open and Closed?
On Day 37 of the 2025 U.S. government shutdown, many federal agencies remain closed or are operating at limited capacity. Critical services like TSA and Border Patrol continue without pay, while programs like SNAP face funding shortfalls.
Status at a Glance
CLOSED / FURLOUGHED
Agencies like NASA, EPA, IRS, and the National Park Service remain largely closed. Public services and research programs are frozen until Congress approves funding.
WORKING WITHOUT PAY
Essential workers such as TSA officers, FAA controllers, and military personnel are still on duty but unpaid.
OPEN & FUNDED
Social Security, Medicare, and the Postal Service continue operations as they are funded separately from annual appropriations.
Key Definitions
“Non-Essential” Staff
Employees temporarily sent home without pay and prohibited from working until the shutdown ends. They will receive back pay later by law.
“Essential” Staff
Employees who must work during the shutdown for public safety or property protection, such as law enforcement or air traffic control.
Funded Staff
Employees unaffected by the lapse because their agencies are funded through fees, trusts, or advance appropriations.
Congress & The White House
Members Paid, Staff Furloughed
Lawmakers continue receiving pay per the Constitution, but many staffers are furloughed. Congressional offices are running at limited capacity.
Partial Operations
Roughly half of Executive Office staff are furloughed. Core functions like security, communications, and the Situation Room remain active.
Closed / Furloughed
National Park Service
Most national parks remain closed, with only minimal maintenance and safety patrols ongoing.
Official DOI Plan →IRS
Over 60,000 employees furloughed. Taxpayer assistance and refund processing halted.
Treasury Plan →NIH / FDA
New NIH clinical trials paused; FDA has suspended most routine food inspections.
HHS Plan →Department of Education
FAFSA and grant processing paused; over 90% of staff furloughed.
Education Plan →Science Missions Paused
Over 90% of staff furloughed; only ISS and satellite safety operations continue.
NASA Plan →Working Without Pay
TSA & Border Patrol
TSA agents, Customs, and Border Patrol staff remain on duty without pay; morale concerns rising as shutdown drags on.
DHS Plan →Active Duty Military
Military operations continue globally, but active-duty troops have missed one pay period.
DoD Plan →FBI & Federal Prisons
Agents and correctional officers are working unpaid; non-essential prosecutions delayed.
DOJ Plan →Air Traffic Control
Controllers continue managing flights but shortages cause nationwide flight delays.
DOT Plan →Open & Funded
U.S. Postal Service
Funded by postage sales; unaffected and fully operational.
USPS →Social Security
Checks continue to be distributed on time. Field offices open for limited services.
SSA →Medicare & Medicaid
Payments to hospitals and providers continue as normal.
HHS →Veterans Affairs
VA hospitals, clinics, and benefits continue uninterrupted.
VA →Federal Reserve
Fully self-funded; monetary operations and rate policy unaffected.
Federal Reserve →