What's the government shutdown status right now?

The status is shown at the top of this site as a live yes/no indicator, with the latest check time and affected agencies. It is updated continuously using official government and congressional data sources.

Is the federal government shut down today?

Use the homepage status indicator for the current answer. The tracker is designed to provide a clear real-time status signal and timestamp so you can verify whether a shutdown is active right now.

How long has the current shutdown lasted?

When a shutdown is active, the homepage counter shows the exact running duration (days, hours, minutes, and seconds) from the active shutdown start time.

Which agencies are currently affected by the shutdown?

The homepage and updates section list the agencies currently affected in the active funding lapse so you can quickly see operational impact.

What is a government shutdown?

A government shutdown occurs when funding legislation required to finance the federal government is not enacted before the next fiscal year begins. During a shutdown, the federal government curtails agency activities and services, ceases non-essential operations, furloughs non-essential workers, and retains only essential employees in departments that protect human life or property.

What happens during a government shutdown?

During a shutdown, non-essential federal employees are furloughed (sent home without pay), national parks and museums close, passport and visa processing is delayed, and many government services are disrupted. Essential services like national security, air traffic control, law enforcement, and medical care in federal hospitals continue operating.

Who gets paid during a government shutdown?

Essential employees (military, law enforcement, air traffic controllers, doctors and nurses in federal hospitals) continue working but may not receive paychecks until the shutdown ends. Members of Congress continue to be paid because their pay cannot be altered except by direct law. Non-essential federal workers are furloughed and typically receive back pay once the shutdown ends.

What services stay open during a shutdown?

Services that remain operational include active duty military, federal law enforcement, air traffic control, National Weather Service operations, emergency medical services in federal hospitals, mail delivery (USPS is self-funded), and Social Security payments. The Patent Office can operate on reserves for a limited period.

What services are shut down?

Closed or disrupted services can include national parks and federally managed museums, passport and visa processing, IRS tax refund processing, EPA inspections, NASA non-essential operations, and work at many regulatory agencies.

How long do government shutdowns last?

Shutdowns vary in length. The longest was 35 days (December 2018 to January 2019), followed by 21 days (1995 to 1996) and 16 days (2013). Many shutdowns last only 1 to 5 days.

How much do shutdowns cost?

Shutdowns are expensive. The 2018 to 2019 shutdown cost approximately $5 billion in back pay and lost revenue. The 2013 shutdown cost about $2.1 billion and reduced GDP growth by 0.6 percent. Costs include back pay, lost tax revenue, reduced economic activity, and disrupted services.

Why do government shutdowns happen?

Shutdowns occur when Congress and the President cannot agree on spending bills before the fiscal year deadline. They typically result from political disagreements over budget priorities, policy riders attached to funding bills, or disputes over specific programs.

Can shutdowns be prevented?

Yes. Congress can pass a continuing resolution to temporarily extend funding while negotiations continue. Automatic continuing appropriation policies have been proposed to reduce shutdown risk, but no permanent federal mechanism is currently in place.

Do other countries have government shutdowns?

Shutdowns like those in the United States are uncommon in most other democracies. Many parliamentary systems use mechanisms that keep government funded while budget negotiations continue.

Do Federal Employees Get Back Pay After a Government Shutdown?

Updated October 31, 2026 · By Shutdown Tracker

Short answer

Yes. The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 requires that furloughed and excepted federal employees receive retroactive pay after a shutdown ends, paid at the earliest date possible.

Is the government shut down right now? Check the live status.

Who gets back pay

Two groups of federal workers are affected by a shutdown. Excepted employees keep working because their jobs protect life or property, such as air traffic controllers, TSA officers and federal law enforcement. Furloughed employees are told not to work.

Neither group is paid on time during a lapse, because there is no appropriation to pay them. Since 2019, both groups are guaranteed retroactive pay once funding is restored.

When the money arrives

After a shutdown ends, agencies typically process back pay within one or two pay periods. During the 2018-2019 shutdown, most employees received back pay within about a week of the government reopening.

Who is not guaranteed back pay

Federal contractors. Their pay depends on their employer and contract, and lost hours are usually not reimbursed.
Workers at businesses that depend on federal facilities, such as concessionaires in national parks.
Employees whose agencies are self-funded or already funded are generally unaffected and keep getting paid on schedule.

What to do during a shutdown

Check your agency's contingency plan to see whether you are excepted or furloughed.
Contact creditors and your mortgage lender early; many offer hardship programs for federal workers.
Ask your credit union about no-interest shutdown loans, which many offered in 2018-2019 and 2025.
Furloughed employees may be able to apply for state unemployment, but it usually must be repaid once back pay arrives.

Frequently asked questions

Do furloughed federal employees get paid?

Not during the shutdown, but federal law guarantees them retroactive pay once the shutdown ends.

Do federal contractors get back pay after a shutdown?

There is no law guaranteeing back pay for contractors. It depends on the contract and the employer.

Do excepted employees have to work without pay?

Yes. Excepted employees must keep working during a shutdown and are paid retroactively when funding is restored.