October 2025 Government Shutdown Takes Effect

Government Shutdown Ends: What Employers Should Know

As of November 12, 2025, the U.S. government has reopened following a 43-day shutdown, allowing immigration-related services, such as E-Verify and certain Department of Labor functions, to resume. Agencies may experience processing delays as they work through backlogs, and the government expects current funding to expire on January 30, 2026. For full details and ongoing coverage, read our latest news alert: October 2025 Government Shutdown Ends. 

Key Point

• As of 12:01 AM on October 1, 2025, a government shutdown has begun following the lapse in federal funding legislation

Impact on Immigration Agencies 

As with prior shutdowns, fee-funded immigration agencies—including U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Department of State (Embassy/Consulate) operations—are expected to experience minimal disruption. These agencies are primarily funded by fees paid by petitioners and applicants. However, the E-Verify system, used for I-9 employment eligibility verification, is not fee-funded and will be offline during the shutdown. 

Essential government agencies such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will continue operating. 

For a detailed breakdown of immigration-related impacts by agency, please refer to our insight post. 

Agency Guidance and Media Reports 

The Whitehouse announced the shutdown at 12:01 AM EST on October 1, 2025. According to Politico and other sources, the Trump administration has instructed federal agencies to “prepare reduction-in-force plans for mass firings during a possible government shutdown, specifically targeting employees who work for programs that are not legally required to continue.”  

Envoy Global is actively monitoring the legal and operational implications of the government shutdown, including the potential impact of mass government layoffs on immigration services and workforce mobility. 

Department of Labor (DOL) Measures 

The most significant immigration-related impacts stem from the Department of Labor (DOL), which is funded by congressional appropriations and is not considered essential. As a result, the DOL has suspended key immigration functions, including: 

• Prevailing Wage Determinations 
• Labor Certifications for green card sponsorship and H-2A/H-2B work visas 
• Labor Condition Application (LCA) Certifications for H-1B, H-1B1 and E-3 work visas 

What Employers Should Know  

• Review foreign national employee timelines and initiate extensions early.  
• Expect delays in green card and visa processing.  
• Expect delays in being able to onboard new H-1B, H-1B1 and E-3 employees. 
• Contact your legal team for guidance and contingency planning. 

Envoy Global will continue to provide updates as further information becomes available.  

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At Envoy Global, we combine smart, friendly legal teams with smart, friendly technology to facilitate immigration for companies and the global talent they depend on. Our holistic, proactive immigration services are built for accuracy and efficiency, always putting people first.

Reach out today to learn how we can support your company’s immigration needs.