• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

5 quirkiest shutdowns

By
Nin-Hai Tseng
Nin-Hai Tseng
,
Brett Krasnove
Brett Krasnove
, and
Brett Krasnove
Brett Krasnove
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Nin-Hai Tseng
Nin-Hai Tseng
,
Brett Krasnove
Brett Krasnove
, and
Brett Krasnove
Brett Krasnove
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 2, 2013, 10:55 AM ET
Since Tuesday, the federal government's shutdown has sent more than 800,000 federal workers home without pay. Essential services are up and running, but things like national parks are closed; back office workers and marine biologists have been sent home as Congress continues its standoff. There's no denying this shutdown is serious; it could cost the economy billions of dollars, depending how long it lasts and when Congress resolves its budget plans. For now, at least, some quirky casualties of the shutdown have emerged: Most of us have heard the beloved panda cam at the National Zoo is down; the closely watched monthly jobs report that was supposed to be released Friday will now be delayed. Here are a few more:

Horse adoption

Thinking about getting a horse for little Suzy? Don't count on the federal government. As part of the shutdown, the Bureau of Land Management has ceased its wild horse adoption program. For years, the agency has been rounding up wild horses out west, keeping and caring for the animals and offering them for adoption. The goal is to manage lands' limited resources -- water, vegetation, and the like. Interested owners will have to wait. For now, they can browse the gallery of wild horses available for adoption here.

Weddings

All national parks are closed. This means things like picnics and camping trips will have to wait. And so will saying "I do" at any of the monuments and national parks where weddings are also held. The shutdown has forced at least some couples to scramble for another venue, as the Wall Street Journal reported. Mike Cassessso and MaiLien Le were to wed Saturday at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, where they had their first date, but the shutdown caused them to scramble for another venue. CNNMoney reports that Genevieve Jeuck and Michael Sallemi had planned to wed at the Grand Canyon but now have to make other arrangements. Depending how long the shutdown lasts, Uncle Sam may have to deal with a few angry bridezillas.

Football

Not even a simple game of football could escape the shutdown. The Department of Defense has canceled all intercollegiate athletics contests at Air Force, Army, and Navy. And for all those eager to catch this Saturday's sold-out football between the Navy Midshipmen and Air Force Falcons in Annapolis, Md., it's uncertain if the game will happen. A decision will be made Thursday, but USA Today reports the game would likely be postponed if the Congressional budget impasse extends through the weekend.

Winery permits

As part of the government shutdown, it almost goes without saying that applicants will have to wait longer to get all sorts of government permits -- from drilling to gun possession. And it will also delay work on that winery where you were hoping to retire. Yup! Winery permit processors will be staying home until Congress can agree on a deal.

Flu shots

On a more serious note, just as flu season rolls around, the federal agency that monitors the spread of the flu and determines how to best direct vaccine programs around the country will be out of business. The Centers for Disease Control will "be unable to support the annual seasonal influenza program, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Hopefully this shutdown ends soon, and nothing big breaks out before that.
About the Authors
By Nin-Hai Tseng
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
By Brett Krasnove
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
By Brett Krasnove
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
Fortune Secondary Logo
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

Middle EastIran
Trump confirms ‘massive and ongoing’ attacks on Iran, warns of possible casualties, and calls on Iranian people to overthrow regime
By Jason MaFebruary 28, 2026
1 hour ago
Form Energy CEO Mateo Jaramillo is pictured at Form Factory 1 in Weirton, West Virginia.
Energybatteries
Google is building a bevy of renewable energy in Minnesota—including the world’s largest battery system providing power for a whopping 100 hours
By Jordan BlumFebruary 28, 2026
2 hours ago
sam altman
AIOpenAI
Sam Altman tells staff at an all-hands that OpenAI is negotiating a deal with the Pentagon, after Trump orders the end of Anthropic contracts
By Sharon GoldmanFebruary 27, 2026
11 hours ago
Future of Workthe future of work
Have good taste? It may just get you a job during the AI jobs apocalypse, says Sam Altman
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezFebruary 27, 2026
11 hours ago
CybersecurityMeta
Trump’s FTC backs off social media regulation despite finding that nearly 20% of America’s children are online for 4 hours or more
By Catherina GioinoFebruary 27, 2026
12 hours ago
Emil Michael smirks
AIAnthropic
Emil Michael, the Silicon Valley exec turned Trump official leading the war against Anthropic, has deep ties to the tech world
By Lily Mae LazarusFebruary 27, 2026
12 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Innovation
An MIT roboticist who cofounded bankrupt robot vacuum maker iRobot says Elon Musk’s vision of humanoid robot assistants is ‘pure fantasy thinking’
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezFebruary 25, 2026
3 days ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Japanese companies are paying older workers to sit by a window and do nothing—while Western CEOs demand super-AI productivity just to keep your job
By Orianna Rosa RoyleFebruary 27, 2026
19 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Commentary
'The Pitt': a masterclass display of DEI in action 
By Robert RabenFebruary 26, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
It’s more than George Clooney moving to France: America is becoming the ‘uncool’ country that people want to move away from
By Nick LichtenbergFebruary 27, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Walmart exec says U.S. workforces needs to take inspiration from China where ‘5 year-olds are learning DeepSeek’
By Preston ForeFebruary 27, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Jeff Bezos says being lazy, not working hard, is the root of anxiety: ‘The stress goes away the second I take that first step’
By Sydney LakeFebruary 25, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.