US Shutdown Begins Oct. 1, Disrupts Federal Services

The U.S. government shutdown began Oct. 1, leaving many federal employees uncertain but continuing to work amid worries about pay. At some airports — including Sacramento International — TSA officers reported anxiety about pay while flights and security lines remained largely normal, though staffing strains elsewhere could still produce delays. Rumors that the shutdown closed the U.S.–Canada border were false; the border remained open and the timing overlapped with separate Canadian technical outages. Fee‑funded immigration services will keep processing applications but may see slower turnarounds for H‑1B and green‑card petitions, and wide furloughs across agencies — including near‑total EPA furloughs for some functions and large National Park Service staffing cuts — threaten emergency response and park services. The shutdown has already curtailed some public services, such as canceled congressional school tours, and is diverting U.S. political focus in ways that could limit progress on bilateral trade and diplomacy.