The federal government on Thursday entered the second day of the shutdown with no end in sight.
Democrats and Republicans are trading blows over who bears ultimate responsibility for the impasse.
Stuck in the middle are the American people, including federal workers.
As the shutdown continues, here’s a quick rundown of services that the American people can still access — for now.
Likely topping the list of the most visible federal government services, the U.S. Postal Service will continue delivering the mail without interruption. That’s because it is funded largely through the sale of its products and services, not congressional appropriations.
Social Security
Anyone who currently receives Social Security benefits or Supplemental Security Income will continue to receive their benefits. While Social Security offices will remain open, and many in-person services will be available, the agency will operate at a reduced level. Until the shutdown ends, the Social Security Administration will be unable to provide proof of benefits letters, or update or correct earnings records, for example.
Medicaid and Medicare
The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare currently has enough funding to continue Medicaid benefits through the end of first quarter of fiscal year 2026. The agency will maintain staff to continue Children Health Insurance Program payments to states, as well as its obligations to maintain the federal health insurance marketplace under the Affordable Care Act.
That means Medicaid, Medicare and Affordable Care Act health coverage will continue, though that could change depending on how long the shutdown lasts.
But Medicare’s telehealth services ended with the shutdown.
Of course, a major sticking point in stalled negotiations to keep the government open are the Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of the year, unless Congress extends them.
WIC and Snap
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, will continue at least for the month of October.
The Department of Agriculture’s contingency plan says a nutrition program for women, infants and children, also known as WIC, has the ability to reallocate unused grant award funds from the previous budget year. The National WIC Association, an advocacy group, says it anticipates that the program has enough funding on hand to remain open for the short term, likely one week to two weeks
National parks
Our national parks will largely remain open under the National Park Service’s contingency plan.
That means, for now, people can continue to visit Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island. On Thursday, the Summit Road on Cadillac Mountain was closed to vehicle traffic, though people can still access the top of the mountain via foot or bicycle.
The park’s Jordan Pond House, Thunder Hole gift shop, Sand Beach, and campgrounds at Blackwoods, Seawall and Schoodic remain open.
Other services in Acadia, however, are unavailable, such as the Visitors Center in Hulls Cove, which is closed.
Federal worker pay
During the shutdown, many federal workers have been furloughed, some of whom could be eventually laid off, President Donald Trump has threatened. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that as many as 750,000 federal workers will be furloughed a day.
Other workers who serve critical functions, such as military service members, law enforcement officers, Transportation Security Administration officers and others, must report to work without pay.
Once the shutdown ends, the law requires federal workers to receive backpay for the time when they were furloughed or continue to provide critical services without pay.
When that may come, however, remains anyone’s guess.
Associated Press contributed reporting.
