Government Shutdown 2013: Five Possible Changes On Oct. 1

By Beth Lawton

Nationwide, about 800,000 federal employees could be furloughed starting Tuesday if the House and Senate are unable to agree on a budget.

The government last shut down due to a budget impasse from Nov. 13 – 19, 1995, and again from Dec. 15, 1995 to Jan. 6, 1996.

What will change

1. You'll likely see a noticeable reduction in rush-hour traffic in the Washington metro area starting Tuesday.
2. Smithsonian museums would be closed to the public; only employees responsible for animals at the zoo and other essential functions would remain on duty.
3. National parks would close to the public.
4. Visa and passport applications would remain unprocessed.
5. Calls to the IRS will go unanswered.

In the 1995 and 1996 shutdowns, many federal employees were paid retroactively for the days they were furloughed. Whether that will happen this year remains to be seen, NPR reported.

Air travel will not be affected because air traffic controllers are considered essential employees, so travelers flying should not expect delays related to the shutdown, according to AAA.

No changes will be made to federal government operations that support national security such as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) aviation operations (e.g. passenger screening).

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