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What federal workers would lose pay during a government shutdown? What to know

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What federal workers would lose pay during a government shutdown? What to know

If Congress fails to avert the looming government shutdown, only federal workers deemed essential would remain on the job.

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The fate of hundreds of thousands of federal employees and the work they do rests on Congress’ ability to extend government funding beyond Friday.

Congress’ bipartisan plan, which President-elect Donald Trump has come out against, would have funded the government through March. Now, lawmakers are under the gun to to see if they can find another agreement to keep the government open before next week’s holidays.

If Congress fails to avert the looming government shutdown, only federal workers deemed essential would remain on the job, while all others would be told not to work and would miss out on their paychecks. But even employees deemed essential, such as air traffic controllers and law enforcement, would still see their pay disrupted, though they’d receive backpay once a funding deal is reached.

Here’s what to know about what government employees would continue to work during a shutdown, according to shutdown plans outlined in 2023 and summarized by Reuters.

Government shutdown: What to know as shutdown looms

What happens during a government shutdown?

During a government shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal workers deemed nonessential would be furloughed, meaning they won’t work and won’t be paid.

Employees who are classified as essential for critical operations in defense, energy, agriculture and other sectors would continue to work without pay. However, under a 2019 law, all federal workers would be reimbursed for retroactive wages later.

Nearly 2 million federal workers are employed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

What’s a furlough?

When government employees are furloughed, they are temporarily ordered to return home without pay for non-disciplinary reasons, according to OPM’s Guidance for Shutdown Furloughs.

In the case of a government shutdown, those workers are put on leave because there isn’t money budgeted for their job. The good news is that furloughed employees who are not allowed to work or who do not receive paychecks are still guaranteed back pay due to legislation passed in January 2019.

Law enforcement largely unaffected by shutdown

Agents at the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and other federal law enforcement agencies would remain on the job, as would prison staffers.

Most Border Patrol, immigration enforcement agents and customs agents would continue to work, though local governments will not receive new aid for migrant shelters.

The Secret Service and the Coast Guard would also continue to operate at nearly full-staff.

Transportation: TSA, air traffic controllers continue to work

Holiday travel plans are unlikely to be disrupted.

Transportation Security Administration agents who operate security at airports, as well as air-traffic control workers would be required to work.

However, in past shutdowns some airports have struggled with absenteeism that forced some operations to be suspended. Additionally, the TSA would not be able to hire new airport security screeners during the busy holiday travel season.

US Postal Service will keep delivering mail

Mail carriers deliver post in snow, rain, heat … and government shutdowns.

The U.S. Postal Service would not be affected because it does not depend on Congressional funding.

What does a shutdown mean for the US military?

The 2 million U.S. military personnel would remain on duty. Roughly half of the Pentagon’s 800,000 civilian employees would not be so lucky and would instead be furloughed.

Nuclear security remains an essential function, meaning the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration would continue maintaining nuclear weapons.

Do national parks close during a shutdown?

National parks, monuments and other sites would technically be closed to the public. Visitors may still be able to get in, but rangers would not be around and infrastructure like restrooms, help desks and other facilities would be closed.

In previous shutdowns, some national parks closed entirely, while others remained technically open but without staff to maintain them. Some fell into disarray, with trash piling up and toilets overflowing.

Wildfire fighting efforts would continue.

NASA would maintain some operations

NASA would continue to track satellites, operate the International Space Station and support astronauts in orbit. But the U.S. space agency would do so with a severely diminished workforce, with 17,000 of its 18,300 targeted for furlough status.

Does Congress still get paid?

Lawmakers would continue to collect paychecks, even as some of their nonessential staffers would be furloughed.

How would a shutdown affect the White House?

During past shutdowns, the White House furloughed a significant portion of its staff. Essential offices, like the National Security Council, will continue operating, while others will be scaled back. 

Under the U.S. Constitution, the president would continue to be compensated.

Can federal workers collect unemployment during a shutdown?

Most federal workers and contractors would be eligible for unemployment.

Those who believe they’re eligible can visit the Department of Unemployment Service’s website to file in the jurisdictions where they work, not where they live.

Contributing: Zach Wichter, Nathan Diller, USA TODAY; Reuters

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.comThis story was updated to add a new video.

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