How the government shutdown affects different agencies
On October 1, 2025, Congress failed to reach an agreement on funding the federal government, agencies are shutdown until further notice. The lapse in congressional funding leaves many workers furloughed, taking an unpaid suspension until an agreement is made. This affects agencies differently in accordance to if their workers are deemed to be essential. The essential personnel throughout different agencies will continue to work throughout the shutdown, but will not be paid.
At the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 89% of workers are furloughed. Although, protection of EPA property, ongoing research, law enforcement and criminal investigations, emergency/disaster assistance are scheduled to continue.
At the Department of Transportation (DOT) , which employes 53,717 workers, 12,213 (23%) are furloughed. In accordance to the DOT shutdown plan, air traffic controllers will continue to work, to be hired and trained. Security inspections and Hazardous material safety inspections will still take place at facilities. Furthermore, activities funded through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA, PL 119-21) and the Division J of the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA, PL 117–58) will be unaffected.
At the Department of Energy (DOE), 37% (5,707) of the staff is furloughed. This does not include personnel that performs functions related to the safety of human life or the protection of property. The DOE lapse plan summary outlined, ” in the weapons programs, excepted personnel will have oversight concerning stopping or maintaining critical control operations systems that involve nuclear materials or maintenance of oneof-a-kind equipment in order to make shutdown decisions.”
