Government shutdown updates: Leavitt says Trump exploring cutting aid to Portland

Social Security payments to more than 74 million Americans will stay on schedule during the government shutdown, a spokesperson for the Social Security Administration tells ABC News.

"In the event of a lapse in appropriation, SSA will follow the contingency plan for continued activities, and Social Security beneficiaries would continue receiving their Social Security, Social Disability Insurance, and SSI payments," the spokesperson said Wednesday.

In a page on its website updated on Wednesday, the agency confirms there will be "no change in payment dates," adding "you will still receive your payments on time." The website also says local offices will remain open to the public but could provide "reduced services."

-ABC News' Elizabeth Schulze

All federal courts are open and expect to maintain full operations through Oct. 17, if the government shutdown runs that long.

Court fee balances and "other funds not dependent on a new appropriation" will be used while the government is shut down, according to the announcement from the U.S. Courts.

Federal judiciary expects no impacts on proceedings or deadlines until then -- unless government attorneys are furloughed in certain cases and need to request a delay.

-ABC News' Devin Dwyer

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that federal layoffs are "imminent" due to the government shutdown.

"These are unfortunate consequences to a government shutdown," Leavitt said on Wednesday.

Leavitt could not state a specific percentage of layoffs that will occur. She also did not state a specific day when the layoffs would happen, but simply said it would occur "soon."

Pope Leo responded to a question on Wednesday regarding the controversy over his plans to honor U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin, who supports legalized abortion, with a lifetime achievement award.

The Pope said that the Democratic senator's record should be considered in its totality and that Americans should search together for the truth on ethical issues.

"Someone who says I'm against abortion but is in favor of the death penalty is not really pro-life," the pope said. "Someone who says I'm against abortion but I'm in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don't know if that's pro-life…So they are very complex issues and I don't know if anyone has all the truth on them."

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked about the pope's comments concerning immigration.

"I would reject there is inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants in the United States under this administration," she said before pivoting to immigration policy failures of the last administration.