Despite the government shutdown, certain aspects of the USDA will continue to operate. On Friday, USDA issued a release in which U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue outlined the services that will continue to be available, including the following:

• Ensuring meat, poultry and egg products are safe
• Inspect before and after bird and animal slaughter for food intended for humans
• Apply foreign government inspection requirements and procedures
• Conduct emergency operations related to voluntary meat and poultry products
• Conduct epidemiological investigations related to foodborne health hazards and disease outbreaks, and provide pathological, microbiological, and chemical examination of USDA regulated products for disease, infection, contamination and adulteration
• Prevent movement of adulterated product

A full outline of the government shutdown plan is available on the USDA website.