October 2025: Potential Impact of a U.S. Government Shutdown on International Exchange Programs

As of 12:01 this morning (Wednesday, October 1), the U.S government fully shut down for the first time since 2019.  

A shutdown happens when Congress fails to pass legislation to fund the government, whether in the form of final appropriations bills or a temporary CR. In this case, neither of these options were enacted by 11:59 PM last night, resulting in a full government shutdown affecting all federal activities covered by discretionary funding. A shutdown is temporary, but how long it would continue and its specific impact on federally funded programming is uncertain.   

Below is a primer on how international exchange programs might be impacted during that time.   

U.S. government offices will be closed or at limited capacity 
There are notable differences between the Department of State shutdown guidance issued yesterday and those from previous shutdowns. Unlike in the past, this guidance specifically does not allow staff to continue working if their programs operate on available balances (i.e., unspent prior year funds, which is common for Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) programs). The guidance specifically says that all appropriated accounts, including those with no-year, rollover funds, must cease operations when the shutdown begins. This guidance seems designed to create as many furloughs as possible across the Department. 

Even so, there should be exceptions. While “non-excepted” staff will likely be furloughed, staff deemed “excepted” will continue to work on certain activities. ECA was tasked with determining who will be excepted and who will need to be furloughed, as well as what operations and activities can continue and what must be paused.   

Here is a detailed article about potential government-wide furloughs under this Administration’s plan. 

OMB is seeking permanent layoffs but it’s unclear if and how this will unfold 
Complicating matters even further, last week the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) sent a memo instructing federal agencies to prepare reduction-in-force (RIF) plans for mass permanent layoffs during a government shutdown, rather than the norm of furloughing staff. We know that ECA made the argument to OMB that their work is essential due to ongoing activities and having participants on program, but we don’t know if or how OMB will go about mass permanent layoffs.   

Participants will feel the impact in different ways  
Exchange participants currently in the U.S.:   

• Their visa and status in the U.S. should be unaffected.   

U.S. citizens currently outside the U.S.:   

• Americans who are abroad on an exchange program should be advised that, during a shutdown, U.S. embassies may only be open to provide services to Americans in distress.   

Exchange participants with approved visas, awaiting travel dates:   

• The Department of Homeland Security will likely continue operations, so these individuals can plan to arrive in the U.S. according to their current schedules – but participants are advised to check in with their exchange organization and/or airline before traveling.  

• SEVIS (Student & Exchange Visitor Information System) will also likely continue operations, so arriving participants can register as instructed.   

• The Social Security Administration will likely suspend processing original or replacement cards, so arriving exchange participants will likely need to wait until the government reopens to apply for a Social Security number.   

Exchange program applicants awaiting visa approval or interviews:    

• Applicants awaiting visa approval should anticipate delays in visa processing.   

• Applicants awaiting a visa interview or scheduling a visa interview should anticipate that there may be delays in the process.   

• It’s advisable to check https://www.usembassy.gov/ for updates about the status of the shutdown and to contact the local U.S. embassy or consular office for more details, especially once the shutdown is over.