The United States federal government has entered a shutdown as of 12:01 AM ET on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.

• General Information
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
• Department of State (DOS)
• Social Security Administration (SSA)
• Additional Resources

General Information

• What does it mean? 
  •  A government shutdown occurs when Congress is unable to pass the funding bills—known as appropriations—that keep federal agencies running into the next fiscal year, which begins on October 1. 

• When does it start?
  • If no agreement is reached by 11:59 PM on September 30, 2025, a partial shutdown will begin at 12:01 AM ET on October 1. 

• What is impacted, and what remains unaffected?
  • While some essential services continue during a shutdown, others may be disrupted or delayed. 
  • During a government shutdown, essential services related to national security and public safety, like inpatient and emergency medical care, air traffic control, law enforcement, border security, disaster aid, and power grid maintenance, continue, though they may face disruptions. 
  • Operations that are fee-funded tend to continue because they are not funded through appropriated money. 
  • Operations that are funded through appropriations, however, generally must shut down if their appropriations are not passed, except for services deemed "essential." 
  • Federal employees from shut-down agencies are either furloughed—prohibited from work and unpaid—or required to work without pay if their roles are deemed essential to public safety.

• How does it end?  
  • To end a government shutdown, Congress needs to pass, and the President must sign appropriations bills to fund the departments and agencies that have been shut down. 
  • The funding bills follow the same legislative process as any other bill, requiring approval from both the House and Senate before the President can sign them into law. 

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

• Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as well as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials operating ports of entry are considered essential workers and will be expected to report to work. Ports of entry–including airports–will remain open, and inspection of noncitizens seeking to enter the U.S. will continue. In prior shutdowns, there have been some delays and long wait times.

• Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement and removal operations will continue.  

• The Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and the Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) are fee-funded, so their operations are expected to continue, though contract employees may be furloughed. 

• U.S Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) is fee-funded, so it will likely remain open and continue to process applications. However, processes may be delayed. 

• E-Verify is not available.
  • Employers impact: 
    • Employers cannot access their E-Verify accounts. 
    • Employers must continue to complete and retain Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, within the required time for every person hired to work for pay in the United States.
    • Employers using an alternative procedure authorized by DHS to perform a remote examination of employees’ Form I-9 documents may continue to do so if they remain enrolled in good standing in E-Verify during the lapse in DHS appropriations.
  • Employees impact: 
    • Employees cannot resolve E-Verify Tentative Nonconfirmations (mismatches) during this time. 
    • DHS will extend the time period when employees may resolve mismatches (Tentative Nonconfirmations or TNCs). 
    • The number of days E-Verify is not available will not count against the number of days employees have to begin resolving mismatches. 
    • Employees with a Social Security Administration mismatch must wait until E-Verify resumes operations to visit an SSA office. 
    • Employees with a DHS mismatch must wait until E-Verify resumes operations to contact DHS. 
  • Customer support impact:
    • Customer support services are also unavailable. 
    • Telephone and email support and myE-Verify customer support and related services are unavailable. 
    • Customers cannot resolve Self Check data-mismatches. 

Department of State (DOS)

• Consular operations domestically and abroad will remain operational.  
• This includes passports, visas, and assisting U.S. citizens abroad.  
• All U.S. embassies and consulates abroad will be operational for national security reasons. 

Social Security Administration (SSA)

Additional Resources

• Texas A&M University’s webpage for Federal Shutdown Resources 
• DHS (Department of Homeland Security) -  Procedures Relating to a Lapse in Appropriations 
• DOS (Department of State) -  Guidance on Operations During a Lapse in Appropriations 
• SSA (Social Security Administration) -  Final SSA Lapse Plan September 2025
• E-Verify -  What’s New