How will the government shutdown affect GA? Here’s what to know

The US government shutdown at midnight Oct. 1 and the effects could hit Georgia on multiple fronts, putting paychecks, public services and assistance programs at risk for thousands of residents.

Most non-essential federal services are either suspended or sharply reduced, while safety, law enforcement, and health operations remain functional but strained. The situation could worsen without emergency or alternative funding if the shutdown continues for weeks.

Major effects on the workforce

According to the The Georgia Department of Labor, as many as 110,900 government workers could be furloughed or expected to work without pay. Although most employees are entitled to backpay this could be a hardship for many if it goes on much longer.

Federal employees include:

• Law enforcement
• Civilian staff
• Military personnel 
• TSA officers
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
• U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
• US. Army (including Fort Eisenhower and National Guard)
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Social Security Administration (SSA)
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
• Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Impact on benefits and public service

The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute (GBPI) reports more than 6 million Georgians receive some form of federal benefits and many programs stand to lose funding if the shutdown cannot be resolved.

These services reflect the broad reach of assistance programs, spanning elderly support, healthcare, nutritional aid, and veteran benefits.

Programs that could be affected:

• Social security
• Medicare
• Medicaid
• Veterans’ disability payments
• SNAP food assistance
• WIC 

These remain in place, but employees won’t receive pay:

• Air traffic control
• Airport security
• Federal law enforcement agencies

National Parks are expected to remain open, but with reduced services and staffing, so visitors may see closures for facilities, restrooms, and guided tours.

Economic fallout

For now, the effect is limited, but the GBPI says contingency planning is underway for areas that will take the economic hit.

• Research funding
• Student financial aid
• Federal healthcare funding
• Georgia’s Head Start
• Farmers
• VA education

The shutdown’s full impact will depend on its length. In the short term, most benefits and services continue, but the households connected to the federal government face immediate uncertainty.

If the impasse stretches into weeks, delays and disruptions will hit across public health, food security and local economies.

If you are a federal employee or need to file for unemployment insurance, visit the Georgia Department of Labor’s website.

This story was originally published October 2, 2025 at 5:30 AM.