More than 90 percent of the U.S. Department of Education’s 4,225 total employees were furloughed as a result of the nation’s federal shutdown that began on Oct. 1.

Even updates to the department website came to a halt.

Only “presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed individuals” in the department were spared furloughs. That has allowed federal financial aid — such as Pell Grants and direct student loans — to continue despite the crisis.

According to the contingency plan posted on the department’s website, those not affected included staff responsible for all things concerning federal financial aid and staff “charged with the protection of life and property.”

The full impact on public education remains unknown, though it would certainly “severely curtail the cash flow to school districts, colleges and universities,” according to the website. As much as 20 percent of some school districts’ funding comes solely from federal education funds.

USA Today, Oct. 3