US shutdown fallout: Here are the most and least affected federal agencies

Efforts to break the deadlock over America’s budget crisis collapsed on Wednesday after senators rejected a temporary funding plan, prolonging the bitter standoff between President Donald Trump and Democrats in Congress. With no deal in place, the government officially ran out of money at midnight, shuttering a wide swath of federal agencies.

At the heart of the impasse, Democrats are demanding extended health care subsidies for low-income families, while Republicans pushed for a short-term extension that would keep federal operations running. The failure to compromise has forced around 750,000 government employees into furlough — unpaid leave until further notice.

While essential personnel such as members of the military, border security agents, and law enforcement officers must continue working, they are likely to miss upcoming paychecks. Meanwhile, the shutdown’s reach is uneven, hitting some departments far harder than others.

Most Affected Agencies:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): 89% of its 15,166 staff furloughed.
Education Department: 87% of 2,447 workers impacted.
Commerce Department: 81% of its 42,984 employees furloughed.
Labor Department: 76% of its 12,916 staff sidelined.
Housing and Urban Development (HUD): 71% of employees furloughed.

Moderately Affected Agencies:

State Department: 62% furloughed.
Interior Department: 53% affected.
Agriculture Department: 49% on leave.
Defense (civilian workforce): 45% furloughed.
Health and Human Services (HHS): 41% affected.

Least Affected Agencies:

Small Business Administration & Transportation: Roughly 23% furloughed.
Social Security Administration: Only 12% of staff impacted.
Justice Department: 11% affected.
Office of Personnel Management: 10% sidelined.
Homeland Security: Just 5% furloughed.
Veterans Affairs: Minimal impact, with only 3% affected.

The shutdown has thrown hundreds of thousands of American families into uncertainty, with no clear resolution in sight as the political standoff deepens.