Government Shutdown 2018: What's Open, What's Closed

SEATTLE, WA - The government might shut down on Friday, which means some important parts of our country will stop functioning. Around Puget Sound, you won't be affected by the 2018 shutdown - if it happens - very much unless you're headed to a national park or are the middle of a mortgage application.

The shutdown will happen at 12:01 a.m. Saturday if Democrats and Republicans don't reach a deal to keep government funded. The two parties are at odds over a number of issues, primarily what to do about Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). During a shutdown, around 40 percent of the federal workforce is put on furlough.

Here's what's open and what's closed during a federal government shutdown:

What Stays Open

Almost everything having to do with public safety, including the military, air traffic controllers, and federal law enforcement, will work normally. The U.S. Postal Service will still deliver because it is self-funded. The government will still issue social security, welfare, and disability payments.

What Would Close

Around here: the Mt. Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic national parks. Depending on the situation, some mortgage applications could be delayed if banks can't reach the Internal Revenue Service to verify income information. The government will also stop processing visa and passport applications. Certain government permits for fishing might be delayed, which is what happened during the 2013 shutdown.

For more on the potential government shutdown, read these stories:

• Government Shutdown Looms As GOP Factions Threaten To Break Rank
• Trump's Tweet Disrupts Government Shutdown Fight

Photo courtesy National Weather Service