U.S. Government Shuts Down: What Closes Today-and What Korean Americans Should Know
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK - The federal government shut down at 12:01 a.m. ET on Oct. 1 after Congress failed to pass a funding bill before the deadline. Essential services continue without pay, but many civilian operations are paused until a new appropriation or stopgap bill is signed. Early agency notices and live coverage confirm closure plans are now in effect.
Under federal "lapse in appropriations" rules, agencies separate excepted work (life and property, national security) from non-excepted work (many administrative services). The Office of Personnel Management issued shutdown instructions agencies are following today, while the government's contingency portal reiterated furlough, ethics, and retroactive-pay guidance.
Immigration & travel. Most day-to-day USCIS casework is fee-funded and generally continues, though some processing may slow. By contrast, E-Verify typically goes offline during shutdowns; employers cannot create new cases and timelines are tolled until service returns. State Department passport/consular visa work, also fee-funded, usually proceeds but can be triaged depending on local staffing. Expect uneven response times and watch post-specific alerts.
Labor & hiring. The Department of Labor's immigration functions (PERM, LCAs, prevailing wage, FLAG portal) are normally suspended during a shutdown because they depend on annual appropriations. Employers should anticipate filing delays and plan contingencies for start dates and mobility.
Airports, parks & museums. Air traffic control and TSA screening continue, but FAA inspections, hiring/training and some modernization work pause-raising the risk of schedule disruptions if the lapse persists. National parks and federal museums face closures or sharply limited services; confirm site-specific status before travel.
For Korean Americans & Korean nationals in the U.S. (quick steps).
- USCIS filings: submit as planned; keep delivery proofs. Consider premium where appropriate.
- E-Verify: cannot create cases while offline; document good-faith steps and follow DHS catch-up rules when service resumes.
- Passports/visas: keep receipts and itineraries; expect triage/delays at some posts.
- Travel/parks: check airline alerts and NPS/museum notices the day of travel.
What's next. House and Senate leaders could move a short-term continuing resolution to reopen government while longer negotiations continue; until then, agencies will operate under shutdown playbooks with uneven impacts across the country.
