What is in the shutdown bill?

Recent US "shutdown bills" are bipartisan funding packages passed in late 2025 to prevent/end federal shutdowns, funding agencies like Agriculture, Defense, VA, and Legislative Branch through early 2026, while extending other funding via Continuing Resolutions (CRs) and including provisions for agency security, WIC/SNAP, and military construction. Details vary, but they often combine full-year funding for some departments with temporary CRs for others, incorporating specific policy items like hemp bans or technology restrictions, with recent bills extending funding to Jan 30, 2026, to avoid immediate shutdowns.

What's included in the government shutdown?

During a government shutdown, essential services related to national security and public safety like inpatient and emergency medical care, air traffic control, law enforcement, border security, disaster aid, and power grid maintenance, continue, though they may face disruptions.

What was in the shutdown bill?

Specifically, the bill provides appropriations for federal agencies to provide standard rates of pay, allowances, pay differentials, benefits, and other payments to excepted employees for work performed during any period in which interim continuing appropriations or full-year appropriations are not in effect for a ...

What bill is causing the government shutdown in 2025?

In 2025, Congress allowed the expanded subsidies to expire and made additional cuts to the medical welfare system under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Contention over these changes became a major conflict leading to the government shutdown.

Do I still get my social security if the government shuts down?

Yes, Social Security payments (Retirement, Disability, and SSI) will continue to be paid on time during a government shutdown because they are funded through trust funds and mandatory appropriations, not the annual budget process that gets interrupted, though some services like in-person help or processing new applications might slow down. 

Senate passes bill to end government shutdown, sending measure to House

Can I still get a passport if the government shuts down?

Yes, you can generally get a passport during a government shutdown because passport services are self-funded by fees and considered essential, so the U.S. Passport Agency remains open; however, operations might slow down, and access to passport agencies in other government buildings could be limited, with potential delays and case-by-case exceptions depending on building access. 

Is there going to be an increase in Social Security payments in 2025?

The dollar amount increase to checks will vary depending on a person's benefit amount, but the average Social Security Retirement benefit, $2,008.31 in July 2025, will grow by about $56.

Do banks close during a government shutdown?

We will remain open and operational during the federal government shutdown. The FDIC stands ready to provide deposit insurance protection for bank customers.

Will the government shut down in October 2025?

Federal government agencies were shut down or operating at reduced staffing levels during a lapse in appropriations from October 1, 2025, through November 12, 2025. Most CPI operations, including data collection, were suspended during that time period.

Who does not get paid during a government shutdown?

Federal employees who work during a shutdown don't get paid until the shutdown ends - including the military. This is a large reason for the delays in services that you may experience during a shutdown.

Do you still get food stamps in a government shutdown?

During a government shutdown, you should still receive your SNAP (food stamp) benefits, as funding is generally available and often paid in advance, but delays or partial payments can happen, especially if the shutdown is prolonged; existing funds on your EBT card remain usable, and you can continue to apply, though new approvals might be delayed until the shutdown ends. States issue the benefits, and while federal contingency funds exist, a long shutdown can affect processing, so check your EBT balance and local agency updates. 

What is not affected by a government shutdown?

During a U.S. government shutdown, essential services like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, VA healthcare, mail delivery (USPS), and military operations generally continue; national security, law enforcement, air traffic control, and emergency response also remain active, though staff work without pay, potentially causing delays. Programs funded by fees (like passports) or advance appropriations (like some infrastructure projects) often keep running, while discretionary programs and non-essential services face slowdowns or closures. 

Who is impacted by the shutdown?

A government shutdown affects federal employees (some furloughed, others working without pay like TSA, military, law enforcement), the public (disrupted services like national parks, food assistance (WIC/SNAP), housing aid, small business loans, Medicare), and the economy (delays in licenses, mortgages, increased uncertainty). Everyone relying on federal services or employed by the government feels the impact through delayed benefits, closed facilities, and economic slowdowns. 

What is closed during government shutdown?

During a U.S. government shutdown, non-essential federal agencies close, leading to closures of National Parks, Smithsonian Museums, and federal monuments, canceled tours (White House, Capitol), and delays in some Social Security, IRS, and SBA services, while essential services like law enforcement (FBI, CBP), air traffic control, and military operations generally continue, though some benefits (SNAP, WIC) and loan processing (FHA, SBA) face disruptions or delays, and even seemingly open services like airports can have major delays. 

What is the real reason for government shutdown?

In the absence of an approved appropriations bill or a CR, the government faces a shutdown due to lack of funding.

Is it better to restart or shutdown?

Yes, Restart is generally better than Shutdown for fixing problems, applying updates, and ensuring optimal performance because it fully clears the system's memory (RAM) and resets drivers, while Windows' default "Shutdown" uses "Fast Startup," which saves the system state for a quicker boot but doesn't perform a full refresh, often leaving issues unresolved. Use Restart for troubleshooting and updates, and Shutdown for long breaks or energy saving. 

Can I still get my passport with the government shut down?

Yes, you can generally get a passport during a government shutdown because passport services are self-funded by fees and considered essential, so the U.S. Passport Agency remains open; however, operations might slow down, and access to passport agencies in other government buildings could be limited, with potential delays and case-by-case exceptions depending on building access. 

Do I still get Social Security if the government shuts down?

Yes, Social Security payments (Retirement, Disability, and SSI) will continue to be paid on time during a government shutdown because they are funded through trust funds and mandatory appropriations, not the annual budget process that gets interrupted, though some services like in-person help or processing new applications might slow down. 

What will happen if Social Security runs out?

If Social Security's trust funds "run out" (projected around 2032-2035), benefits won't stop entirely but would likely face significant, across-the-board cuts (around 20-24%) if Congress doesn't act, as the program would only be able to pay what comes in from taxes. This would dramatically increase poverty among seniors, especially low-income individuals, and disproportionately affect women and younger retirees, necessitating potential solutions like raising the payroll tax, increasing the retirement age, or reducing benefits for higher earners. 

What is the $10,000 bank rule?

The "$10,000 bank rule" refers to federal requirements under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) for financial institutions to report cash transactions over $10,000 to the IRS via FinCEN using a Currency Transaction Report (CTR) or IRS Form 8300, primarily to combat money laundering and financial crimes. This applies to single deposits, withdrawals, or exchanges of currency over $10,000, or related transactions totaling that amount, and requires gathering personal information for the report, with attempts to avoid this by breaking up deposits (structuring) being illegal.
 

Will I get my Social Security check if the government defaults?

Thanks to a law passed by Congress in 1996 (Section 1145, “Protection of Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds”), Social Security checks should keep flowing, even if the U.S. government begins defaulting on its other existing financial obligations.

Is it safe to have $500,000 in one bank?

It's not fully safe to keep $500,000 in one bank account because the FDIC only insures up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution, per ownership category; the excess $250,000 is at risk if the bank fails, but you can easily protect it by using separate ownership categories (like joint, retirement, trust) or spreading it across different banks, or using deposit networks. 

How to get $3000 a month in Social Security?

To get $3,000 a month from Social Security, you generally need to have consistently high earnings (around the taxable maximum) for at least 35 years and delay claiming benefits until age 70 to maximize delayed retirement credits, as Social Security calculates your benefit based on your top 35 inflation-adjusted earnings years. While waiting to 70 is key, high earners can get close to this amount even at full retirement age, but waiting longer significantly boosts the payment. 

How many people have $500,000 in their retirement account?

Only a minority of Americans have $500,000 or more in retirement savings; recent data from late 2025 and early 2025 reports suggest around 7% to 9% of Americans have reached or surpassed this milestone, with some figures showing 7.2% to 9.3% have $500K or more, though many more have significantly less. For example, a December 2025 report noted 7.2% of Americans had $500K or more, while another noted 9.3% of households with retirement accounts had over $500K. 

What is the highest Social Security check anyone can get?

For 2026, the maximum Social Security retirement benefit is $5,251 per month, but only achievable by those who earned the maximum taxable income for at least 35 years and wait to claim benefits until age 70; otherwise, the amount varies significantly by age and earnings history, with lower amounts for retiring at full retirement age (around $4,152) or at age 62 (around $2,969). To get the top benefit, you need to have consistently hit the annual wage base limit and delayed claiming for decades.