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.

SNAP (Food Stamps) During a Government Shutdown: Will Benefits Be Paid?

Updated October 31, 2026 · By Shutdown Tracker

Short answer

SNAP benefits usually continue for the first month of a shutdown, but a long lapse can exhaust funding. In the 43-day 2025 shutdown, November benefits were delayed and only partially paid while courts and USDA sorted out contingency funds.

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

How SNAP is funded

SNAP is an entitlement, but the money to pay it still comes through annual appropriations. When funding lapses, USDA can draw on carryover money and a contingency reserve, which typically covers about one month of benefits.

What happened in 2025

During the fall 2025 shutdown, USDA said it could not issue full November benefits. Lawsuits followed, courts ordered the use of contingency funds, and many households received delayed or partial payments until the shutdown ended in mid-November.

In the 2018-2019 shutdown, USDA issued February benefits early to avoid a gap, which left many families stretching benefits over a longer period.

WIC and school meals

WIC depends on appropriations and has less cushion than SNAP. States have used leftover federal funds and their own money to keep WIC running in short shutdowns. School lunch and breakfast programs generally have funding to continue for several weeks.

If your benefits are delayed

Check your state SNAP agency's website, which posts issuance dates during a shutdown.
Find local food banks through Feeding America's food bank locator or by calling 211.
Do not close your EBT account; benefits resume to the same card.

Frequently asked questions

Will SNAP benefits be paid if the government shuts down?

Usually yes for the first month. A shutdown that lasts into a second benefit month can cause delays or reduced payments.

Does WIC stop during a government shutdown?

WIC can be disrupted in a long shutdown, though states have used reserve funds to keep it running in past lapses.