What You Need to Know

As Congress races to pass a funding plan before Saturday midnight to avoid a government shutdown, one key service will remain unaffected: the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Even if Congress misses the deadline, the USPS will continue operating, ensuring that holiday gifts and mail will still be delivered.

The USPS is funded through the sale of its products and services, rather than taxpayer dollars, which means it will remain fully operational, regardless of a government shutdown. A statement on the USPS website reassures the public: “U.S. Postal Service operations will not be interrupted in the event of a government shutdown, and all Post Offices will remain open for business as usual.”

While the mail service stays on track, several other federal agencies and services would be impacted by a shutdown.

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Services That Would Be Affected:

• National Parks: Facilities requiring staffing will close, though visitors can still access some open-air memorials and parks that don’t need staff.
• Federal Courts: Federal courts typically have enough funds from fees and filings to stay open for a few weeks, but they would eventually curtail services. Federal prisons, however, remain operational.
• Veterans: VA hospitals will remain open, and benefits checks will continue to be issued, but new applications and pending claims won’t be processed.
• Active Duty Military: Military personnel will still work during a shutdown, but they won’t be paid until Congress approves funding. Some civilian military employees may be furloughed.

While some services face disruption, the USPS will continue to deliver, ensuring that holiday packages and cards reach their destinations on time.

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