A potential government shutdown could spell trouble for numerous federal employees and vital services relied upon by millions of Americans.

The House of Representatives voted on Thursday against a deal supported by President-elect Donald Trump intended to prevent the shutdown, with many Republicans collaborating with Democrats to block the measure. This bill was a reduced version of a bipartisan agreement aimed at avoiding a shutdown that Trump opposed earlier in the week.

If funding is not extended by midnight Friday, the government will close until a new agreement is reached, resulting in hundreds of thousands of federal employees being furloughed and many services pausing.

Nevertheless, not everything will come to a halt. Workers designated as essential, such as law enforcement officers and air traffic controllers, will continue to work, and critical services and programs will remain operational.

Good news for military veterans: their benefits and medical services will persist. According to a contingency plan released by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in January, access to healthcare, additional benefits, and even memorial services for veterans will continue uninterrupted.

Here’s what you should know:

What Veterans Affairs services will remain operational during a shutdown?

The VA conducted an assessment earlier this year regarding the impact of prior government shutdowns and found that certain benefits and payments were delayed.

To avoid similar disruptions in the event of another government shutdown, the department updated its contingency plan identifying essential functions and programs that will continue to be funded.

Essential services that will operate despite a shutdown include:

• Medical care
• Compensation and pension benefits
• Housing assistance
• Burial services
• Veterans Crisis Line and suicide prevention services
• Caregiver support

Most VA employees won’t be furloughed

The contingency plan indicated that a significant majority of VA employees, approximately 96%, will be fully funded or required to report for work during a shutdown. This means that out of about 458,000 employees, only around 18,000 could face furloughs, resulting in them not working or getting paid.

During a government shutdown, these employees are temporarily put on leave due to a lack of allocated funding for their roles. However, furloughed workers are still guaranteed back pay, thanks to a law enacted in January 2019.

Which Veterans Affairs services will be suspended?

While the VA will keep processing veterans’ benefits, some services that veterans rely on might be temporarily unavailable. This includes certain educational and job training programs and support for veteran-owned enterprises.

The department’s contingency plan details a range of services and operations that will be halted, including administrative responsibilities, human resources tasks, and some IT services that most veterans are unlikely to notice.

Other services that will be paused until the conclusion of a shutdown include:

• Functions performed by the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OAWP) which is responsible for investigating misconduct or poor performance.

• Public affairs services offered by the Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs (OPIA), including media relations and news distribution.