What Are Essential Services During A Government Shutdown

During the 2013 shutdown, tourists have to wait at Mountain Rushmore from the highway because the national memorial in Keystone, S.D., was airtight. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

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Scott Olson/Getty Images

During the 2013 shutdown, tourists take to expect at Mount Rushmore from the highway because the national memorial in Keystone, S.D., was airtight.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

Updated at 5:08 p.m. ET

And so, here nosotros go once again.

The federal regime is once more on the verge of a shutdown, and just like the concluding time, in October 2013, there will some things you'll detect that are shuttered and others you won't.

Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney told reporters on Friday that the Trump administration is going to manage the shutdown differently than the last time. "Nosotros're non going to weaponize it," he said. But for the most function, like four years ago, essential services will continue, and essential workers will remain on the task, albeit without pay.

That means:

Social Security: Those checks will continue to be mailed out in what is a largely automated process.

Military: The active-duty armed services will remain on the chore, and military operations in places like Afghanistan would go on. Guidance from the Defense force Department issued on Friday said military personnel would non exist paid — neither would necessary civilian personnel. In previous shutdowns, training missions were curtailed. Armed forces contractors would not be affected, as long every bit their work has already been funded.

Veterans Affairs: Ever since a scare about veterans not getting their health care during the last government shutdown, the Veterans Wellness Assistants has been getting its funding appropriated in advance. According to the VA, 95.5 per centum of its employees are exempted from a shutdown and would come up to piece of work. Then the VA says it will suffer no effects from a shutdown.

Mail delivery: The post part will be open up, and your mail will be delivered, because the U.Due south. Mail service has its own revenue stream.

Travel: Air traffic controllers, Transportation Security Administration officers and Customs and Border Protection agents would remain on the job, so air travel should be mostly unaffected.

National parks: In the ane major departure from the last shutdown, the Interior Department says it will piece of work to go on national parks and other public lands "as attainable equally possible." During the last shutdown, the National Park Service'due south closing of parks and the national monuments in Washington, D.C., was controversial and led to an angry group of visiting seniors to push button bated barriers at the National World State of war II Memorial.

In an email, Interior Section spokesman Heather Swift said:

"The American public and especially our veterans who come up to our nation's capital should find war memorials and open-air parks open to the public. Additionally, many of our National Parks, refuges and other public lands will still endeavour to allow limited access wherever possible. For example, this means that roads that take already been open should remain open (call up snow removal) and vaulted toilets (wilderness type restrooms) should remain open, nevertheless services that require staffing and maintenance such every bit campgrounds, total-service restrooms, and concessions that crave some Park staff or assistance will not exist operating.

"Other areas such every bit culturally sensitive areas or backcountry areas that present a adventure to visitors may also accept restricted admission."

Museums: The Smithsonian Establishment says its museums in Washington, D.C., every bit well as the National Zoo would remain open for the weekend but will close on Mon if the regime shuts down. All animals would exist connected to be fed, but, in a setback for panda lovers, the zoo'southward pop Panda Cam and other alive animal cameras would not be broadcasting.

The Smithsonian'south New York museums, the Cooper Hewitt design museum and Heye Heart, would exist closed.

Courts and justice: Federal courts would continue normal operations for the fourth dimension being, according to a spokeswoman at the U.S. District Courtroom for the Commune of Columbia, who says the system has a three-week cushion of funding. If a shutdown continues, the courts would move into contingency plans.

The Justice Department says criminal litigation will keep without suspension "every bit an activity essential to the condom of homo life and the protection of holding." But civil litigation "will be curtailed or postponed to the extent that this can exist washed without compromising to a significant caste the safe of man life or the protection of property. "

The office of special counsel Robert Mueller would also remain open up, according to a Department of Justice spokesman, who says all employees are considered exempt and would continue their operations.

Legislation: Congress would go on to operate, equally they piece of work to end a shutdown, although the Capitol may not be open to tours. And fear not: Lawmakers will continue to receive their pay, although some lower-level staffers may not.

Federal agencies: Most federal agencies would exist airtight, like the Section of Education and the IRS, although some of their essential functions volition continue to operate.

Virtually Department of Homeland Security personnel will continue working. "Most 90 pct of all DHS personnel are considered essential staff," a DHS official told CQ in a statement.

The Environmental Protection Agency has enough resources to remain open through Jan. 26, according to a memo from the administrator to employees. All EPA employees are expected to written report to work side by side week, regardless of whether there is a shutdown.

Half of Health and Man Services employees would be on furlough. The department has outlined how its various agencies volition be affected.

The National Treasury Employees Union, which represents IRS workers and many other government employees, says that during the last shutdown in October 2013, some 850,000 federal workers were forced into unpaid work furloughs. They eventually received their back pay, and Congress would have to do so in the outcome of a new shutdown this time around.

Just in example, bipartisan legislation has been proposed by representatives from Virginia — where a fair share of federal employees live — to provide back pay regardless of whether federal workers are told to report during a possible shutdown.