A shutdown of US government services has begun, prompted by the inability of the Republican party and the Democratic opposition to agree on a spending bill. There is no set end date for the shutdown. The Executive Office of the President, under the direction of Russel T Vought, sent a memorandum to all executive departments and agencies on September 30 to initiate shutdown procedures.
Passport services are anticipated to remain available. However, the scope of these services could be reduced to diplomatic visas and emergency situations, depending on how long the shutdown lasts. Border entry points will remain accessible.
USCIS will continue its operations, as it is primarily funded by fees rather than Congress. Certain programs that depend on Congressional funding may experience disruptions. The Department of Labor’s office overseeing foreign labor certification will remain open, affecting H-1B filings, as employers will be unable to file new applications requiring fresh LCAs.
ICE enforcement and removal activities will proceed without interruption, along with the operation of Student and Exchange Visitor Program offices.