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A government shutdown could affect everything from your passport application to your trip to a national park.
UNITED STATES OF TODAY

FILE – This March 30, 2017, the archive photo shows the Capitol Dome at the # Dawn in Washington. Congress reconvenes on Monday, June 4, 2018, facing a confrontation in the House over immigration, as Senate Republicans attempt to end a widespread trade war after President Donald Trump's decision to impose import duties to narrow allies. (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite, File) ORG XMIT: NYJK103 (Photo: J. Scott Applewhite, AP)

Government is closed – perhaps for a "very long shutdown", according to the President Donald Trump – but will that make a difference in your life?

The answer? It depends.

If you are among the 800,000 government employees who are not considered "essential", you will feel the effects of the closure: you will either be forced to work or forced to work without pay until you the impasse is resolved. 19659010] The closure, which began Saturday at midnight when the Congress was unable to hear on a $ 5 billion spending plan for the Trump border wall, concerns nine departments: agriculture, commerce, justice, internal security, interior, state and transport. Treasury and Housing and Urban Development, as well as several agencies. Six departments had previously approved budgets.

What will not be affected by the closure?

Flights Air traffic controllers and security guards will always be at work, even in the event of closure. [19659010] Amtrak. Trains are run by a government-owned company and will also operate as usual.

The border. Customs officers and border guards will continue to work at the borders and at the points of entry.

Social security checks Social security benefits are always paid.

Medicare. Like social security, benefits will always be provided.

Additional nutritional assistance program for women, infants and children. Advantages available at least as long as funds carried over into the states or the federal accounts are available.

Smithsonian museums and zoo. They will be open every day except Christmas.

Santa Tracks Santa Tracker. The beloved Christmas monitor will always follow St. Nick's around the world.

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What will be affected?

State and local agricultural service centers. They would be closed, leaving no one to answer questions or help farmers register for programs under the recently approved Agriculture Act.

National Parks. Some might close, others might offer limited services. At a closure last January, the gates of the national parks remained open, but few staff members were present. The buildings were closed and sometimes with toilets.

Small business owners. More than 30 million small businesses would no longer have access to loans and technical assistance from the federal government because the guarantees given by the Small Business Administration to the loan endorsement would freeze.

Buyers of housing. Americans looking to buy a new home or refinance a mortgage insured by the federal government would be put on hold.

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