Government Shutdown FAQ

If Congress does not pass a funding bill by 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, the federal government will shut down.

Below you’ll find answers to some common questions about what a shutdown means and how it could affect you and your family.

No matter what happens in Washington, please know that my district and D.C. offices will remain available to help. If you need assistance, you can contact me and my team through this website or by calling (202) 225-5441.

What is a federal government shutdown? Who will be affected?

• Each year, Congress must pass bills to approve funding for government agencies and services. If those bills aren’t passed on time, Congress can pass a short-term fix called a continuing resolution (CR) to keep money flowing until funding levels are ready. If there’s no funding bill and no CR, the government shuts down because no funding has been approved.

• Every agency has its own plan for shutdowns. Many agencies will have to stop or reduce the essential services they provide and furlough employees until the end of the shutdown. Other “essential” employees in agencies must keep working without pay until funding is passed.

I have an issue with a federal agency, can I still call them for help? Can you help me?

• During a shutdown, many federal departments and agencies furlough workers, so their help desks may have little or no staffing.

• If you need help during a shutdown, contact my office to open a case. We’ll reach out to the appropriate agency on your behalf, submit paperwork, and request updates.

• Please know that while we’ll keep working for you, some agencies may not be able to process requests until funding is restored. We’ll share updates with you as soon as they become available.

Will I continue to receive my Social Security?

• A shutdown should not impact Social Security benefit payments.

• New benefit verification and the issuing of new cards pause during a shutdown, so new recipients may see delays in processing their claims.

Will Medicare or Medicaid be interrupted?

• Medicare and Medicaid should continue during a federal shutdown.

• You may experience difficulty reaching these agencies as some employees are furloughed. Some communications from the agency may be stalled or outdated.

Does USPS still deliver mail?

• The U.S. Postal Service should operate normally during a shutdown.

Can veterans still get treatment at VA or access other services?

• Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities should not be seriously impacted, and almost all employees are expected to remain on the job. Employees performing medical and prosthetic research would be furloughed.

• Access to benefits under the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) should continue.

• The National Cemetery Administration’s (NCA) burial, scheduling of burials, first notice of death, and headstone processing functions should continue. Oversight and direct administration of the NCA program offices (Veterans Cemetery Grants Program, Engagement and Memorial Innovations, Cemetery Development and Improvement Service, Finance, Legislative and Regulatory Service, etc.) would pause until the end of the shutdown.

Will I receive my tax refund? Do I still need to file my taxes if I received an extension?

• If you filed for a six-month extension for your tax returns in April, you are still required to file by October 15.

• The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has not released an updated plan for operating during a potential shutdown, but in previous shutdowns, taxpayer phone calls, disputes and refunds were delayed or unavailable until funding was restored.

Will student loans continue to be disbursed?

• Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans should continue until remaining funding runs out. 

• Free Applications for Student Aid (FAFSA), Pell Grant, and Federal Direct Student Loans, and servicing of federal student loans should continue for a limited time during a shutdown.

• In the case of a prolonged shutdown, school districts, colleges, and universities may begin to experience funding shortages due to lapsed federal funding.

I rely on food programs like WIC and SNAP — will I keep getting my payments?

• Funding for WIC (The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) will run out of remaining funding quickly and may be unable to provide food for children and parents in need.

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits may also be affected in the case of a prolonged shutdown.

What will be the impact on federal housing loans?

• The Federal Housing Administration will stop approving applications for housing loans. This will create major delays for approval of development, rehabilitation, and refinancing of properties that will likely persist in the period following the shutdown.

What is the impact on small businesses?

• The shutdown will impact federal loans to small businesses. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will not accept, review or approve any new business loans for small businesses.

Will immigration applications still be processed?

• Visa and passport operations are fee-funded and not normally impacted by a shutdown.

• Immigration court cases on the detained docket should still proceed during a shutdown, while non-detained docket cases will be rescheduled to a later date once funding resumes.

• The Department of Homeland Security estimates that Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should retain most of their employees and continue their work during a shutdown.

What does this mean for disaster relief efforts?

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) staff should still respond to emergencies, but long-term projects will be delayed due to a lack of funding in the Disaster Relief Fund.

Do military personnel continue working?

• Yes, the Department of Defense will continue defending our nation and all military personnel will continue in their duties as usual, but service-members will not receive pay during a government shutdown.

Do furloughed federal employees get back pay?

• Almost always. Under federal law (specifically, The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act), employees who are furloughed or made to work during a shutdown must be paid after it ends for the time the government was closed.

What does this mean for my upcoming travel plans?

• You can and should continue to enjoy your travel plans. TSA officers and air traffic controllers are considered essential, but please have extra patience as both will be working without pay during the shutdown.

• Passport applications should continue to be processed during a shutdown. All passport services, including agencies and the National Passport Information Center, should remain open during a federal government shutdown.

• All services at international embassies and consulates should continue during a shutdown. If you are abroad and need help, you should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. 

Do national parks and monuments close?

• It depends on the site. Some parks and open-air memorials may remain open without staffing, but services — including visitor centers, restrooms, trash pickup, and road maintenance — can be limited or unavailable. 

• There would also be limited emergency rescue services and safety updates would not be published. Please keep this in mind when planning any visits.

I'm traveling to Washington, D.C. — will my tours still take place?

• Unfortunately, no. The tour guides and visitor centers of federal government buildings are considered non-essential and will be closed during a shutdown. This means that all tours of the U.S. Capitol, White House, and FBI Building will be canceled during a shutdown.

• Open-air parks such as the National Mall and Rock Creek park are still accessible in a shutdown. You can walk the Mall and see beautiful sites from the outside such as the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument, and U.S. Capitol Building.