Those who still have jobs will receive back pay once funding is restored to their agency. In prior shutdowns, Congress had to approve back pay for employees, but a 2019 law made it mandatory. Contractors — who were responsible for carrying out about $755 billion worth of government work in the last fiscal year — are not guaranteed back pay.

With the government shutdown in effect, many federal agencies and services are shut down or are greatly restricted. Americans who rely on federal programs like Social Security could be impacted. National parks or the military are not funded the same way as Social Security.