WASHINGTON — U.S. government services would be disrupted and hundreds of thousands of federal workers would be told not to work if Congress fails to extend funding past Oct. 1.

Workers deemed essential would remain on the job. All federal employees' pay could be disrupted during a shutdown, though they would receive retroactive pay once government operations resume.

Here is a guide to what would stay open and what would shut down, according to agency shutdown plans outlined last year:

When and why would the government shut down?

Congress writes detailed spending legislation for most U.S. government agencies each year, but it rarely gets the job done before the fiscal year starts on Oct. 1. Lawmakers typically pass stopgap spending bills to avoid disruption for several weeks or months while they finish their work, but there is often a fair amount of drama involved.

This year, Republicans who control the House of Representatives say any stopgap spending bill must include legislation that would tighten voting laws to prevent noncitizens from participating in the Nov. 5 elections. Noncitizens are already prohibited by law from voting, and Democrats who hold the majority in the Senate oppose it as a voter suppression effort.

If the two sides do not iron out their differences before Oct. 1, wide swaths of the government would not have the money to continue their operations.

Does the mail get delivered if the government closes?

The U.S. Postal Service would be unaffected because it does not depend on Congress for funding.

What happens to Social Security, Medicare and other benefits?

The Social Security Administration would continue to issue retirement and disability benefits.

Payments would likewise continue under the Medicare and Medicaid health care programs.

Military veterans' benefits and medical care would also continue.

Food benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other nutrition programs would continue, though they could be disrupted to some extent.

Related:

US House Republicans cancel vote on stopgap funding measure

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson canceled a vote scheduled for Wednesday on his stopgap funding bill, saying more work is needed to build support for a measure, less than three weeks before a government shutdown deadline.

What does a shutdown mean for the military?

The 2 million U.S. military personnel would remain at their posts, but roughly half of the Pentagon's 800,000 civilian employees would be furloughed — ordered not to work.

Contracts awarded before the shutdown would continue, and the Pentagon could place new orders for supplies or services needed to protect national security. Other new contracts, including renewals or extensions, would not be awarded.

Payments to defense contractors such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin and RTX, formerly known as Raytheon, could be delayed.

The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration would continue maintaining nuclear weapons.

How does a government shutdown affect law enforcement?

Agents at the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and other federal law enforcement agencies would remain on the job, and prison staffers would continue to work.

The Secret Service and the Coast Guard would also continue operations, and most employees would continue to work.

Most of the Federal Trade Commission's consumer-protection workers would be furloughed, as would half of its antitrust employees.

Will national parks close during a shutdown?

National parks, monuments and other sites would be closed to the public, though it will be impossible to keep visitors out of many of them. Rangers would be furloughed and restrooms, help desks and other facilities would be shuttered.

Some states may use their own money to keep parks and other sites open, as happened in the 2018-2019 shutdown.

Wildfire fighting efforts would continue, though timber sales on national forest lands would be curtailed and fewer recreation permits would be issued.

What happens to border security?

Most Border Patrol and immigration enforcement agents would continue to work, as would most customs officers.

Local governments would not get new aid to shelter migrants.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency would suspend security reviews that help schools, local governments and other institutions defend against ransomware.

Will federal courts remain open during a shutdown?

Federal courts could operate for several weeks without congressional funding, relying on fees and other funds, but eventually would have to scale back activity. The Supreme Court would stay open as well.

Criminal prosecutions would continue. Most civil litigation would be postponed.

Does a shutdown impact transportation?

Airport security screeners and air traffic control workers would be required to work, according to recent contingency plans, though absenteeism could be a problem. Some airports had to suspend operations during a shutdown in 2019 when traffic controllers called in sick.

The Transportation Security Administration would not be able to hire new airport security screeners during the busy holiday travel season.

Some major infrastructure projects could face delays because environmental reviews and permitting would be disrupted, according to the White House.

What happens to health programs?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would continue to monitor disease outbreaks, though other public health activities could suffer as more than half of the agency's workers would be furloughed.

The National Institutes of Health would furlough most of its staff and delay new clinical trials for medical treatments.

Health care services for military veterans and Native Americans would continue.

Most inspections of hazardous waste sites and drinking water and chemical facilities would stop.

Food safety inspections by the Food and Drug Administration could be delayed. However, the FDA's testing of new drugs and medical devices would continue.

Would the shutdown affect education?

Pell Grants and student loans would continue to be paid out but could be disrupted as most Education Department employees would be furloughed.

A protracted shutdown could "severely curtail" aid to schools, universities and other educational institutions, the department said last year. It also could delay funds that are due to be awarded later in the year.

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