READ MORE: Government shutdown starts: Here's what closes during a shutdownWill the shutdown affect student loan payments? What they're saying:Student loan borrowers must continue making payments, even during a shutdown, as student aid will be largely unaffected in the short term, according to the department’s shutdown contingency plan. RELATED: Some student loan borrowers brace for smaller paychecksBy the numbers:The Education Department manages a $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio. Within the Office of Federal Student Aid, the department plans to furlough 632 of the 747 employees during the shutdown, although it didn’t say which ones. For most student loan issues, borrowers work with loan servicers hired by the department rather than directly with FSA staff.