Information on Services During a Government Shutdown
Below is Information on Services During a Government Shutdown
As you may know, Congress is required to pass twelve annual spending bills before the start of each fiscal year on October 1st. These bills are essential for ensuring federal agencies have the resources they need to serve the American people. When Congress cannot complete this work on time, a continuing resolution (CR) acts as a stopgap measure to extend government funding at current levels and prevent a shutdown. If Congress does not pass a CR or full year federal funding bills before the September 30th deadline, the government shuts down — forcing federal workers to miss paychecks, disrupting services, and threatening access to programs like housing assistance, health care, and nutrition benefits that families rely on. The CR, as with any appropriations bill, must also be passed by the Senate and signed by the President.
Below is our current information on impacts of a government shutdown on everyday services. Please note that President Trump, as the head of the Executive Branch, has significant leeway during a shutdown to deem certain government services as essential and non-essential. The information on this page is based on publicly available information and standard operations during previous government shutdowns, however this could change should the President choose to order certain agencies to stop providing services.
ACCESSING GOVERNMENT SERVICES
Will my mail still arrive during the shutdown?
Yes. The U.S. Postal Service is not affected by a government shutdown. The U.S. Postal Service is an independent entity that is funded through the sale of its products and services, and not by tax dollars.
Will I continue to receive my Social Security checks?
Yes. During a government shutdown, recipients continue to receive their Social Security checks. However, with thousands of Social Security Administration (SSA) employees furloughed, customer service capacity will be reduced, leading to longer wait times on the phone and in person. While benefit payments are not affected, those seeking other services may experience delays.
Will Medicare and Medicaid be interrupted?
No. The operations of Medicare and Medicaid related to payments of benefits will operate normally during the shutdown. However, The Social Security Administration, which administers Medicare cards, said it would pause the replacement of Medicare cards until the government reopens.
Can I get taxpayer assistance from IRS personnel during the shutdown?
It will likely be difficult. The IRS said that it would use special funding enacted by Democrats in 2022 to keep all 74,299 employees on board should its regular funding lapse. While the shutdown continues, 90 percent of the IRS staff is furloughed. IRS's "tax filing season" is January-April. If the Trump Shutdown continues, the limited IRS staff will be unable to keep up with the questions coming in from taxpayers using the IRS customer service hotline. If you are filing your 2024 taxes with a valid extension, you are still required to file by the October 16 deadline. You may experience significant delays in processing tax refunds due to staffing shortages caused by the government shutdown. won't have to furlough any employees if a government shutdown occurs this week — but potentially only for a short time.
Will I continue to get SNAP benefits?
Families should receive SNAP benefits in October. If the shutdown stretches beyond a couple of weeks, however, benefits in November could be impacted for the over 40 million Americans who depend on SNAP each month.
Will I continue to get WIC benefits?
Based on current projections, if the shutdown continues beyond a few days funds could run out. Current funds for the $8 billion Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, or WIC, are nearly depleted, and states won't be able to access the next fiscal year's money during a shutdown. WIC's contingency fund boasts just $150 million — enough to support the current caseload of participants for about one week, according to the National WIC Association.
Will I be able to obtain a new flood insurance policy or renew my existing flood insurance policy during the shutdown?
NFIP cannot sell new or renew flood insurance policies after 11:59 pm Eastern time on September 30, 2025. Existing NFIP policies will remain in effect until their expiration date, and claims will continue to be paid as long as FEMA has the funds on hand.
What is the impact of the Trump Shutdown on small businesses?
A shutdown halts federal loans to small businesses. During a shutdown, the Small Business Administration stops approving applications for small businesses to obtain loans and guarantees, typically $1 billion per month. If you have an SBA loan, your repayments are still due, and it is a good idea to contact your lending institution and ask how the government shutdown affects your loan (SBA loans are provided through private lenders). SBA is likely to continue to issue disaster loans, since they did so during the 2018-2019 shutdown. However, you should expect the process of getting approved for a new EIDLs (Economic Injury Disaster Loans) to take a bit longer.
What is the impact on home mortgage applications?
During the shutdown, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will see significant delays in loan processing and approvals, due to the furloughing of most employees. Thousands of people trying to buy a new home or refinance an FHA-insured mortgage will likely be put on standby.
If you are facing foreclosure on an FHA-backed loan, the clock does not stop. Most loss mitigation for homeowners facing foreclosure (including FHA loan modifications, FHA-HAMP, etc.) will continue.
Will I have access to federal rental and housing assistance during a shutdown, such as Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV)?
Households will continue to receive U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) assistance through the end of the year, but a longer shutdown may impact access to rental assistance. If the shutdown ends before the end of December, funding for HUD rental assistance should continue as normal; Housing Choice Vouchers, public housing, and Project-Based Rental Assistance are all funded on a calendar year cycle.
However, a prolonged shutdown period could lead to delays in renewing contracts, and the broader financial uncertainty of a shutdown may lead public housing agencies to stop reissuing housing vouchers.
If I am a farmer, will I still be able to apply for and receive federal loans and assistance?
Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs for direct operating loans and loan guarantees to farmers, the processing of new direct farm ownership loans for beginning farmers and ranchers, and marketing assistance loans to farmers will stop without government funding for the FSA staff who process loans. A shutdown also risks delaying natural disaster assistance payments owed to farmers. USDA is already behind on their timeline for disbursing these payments, and a shutdown could further delay this much-needed assistance for farmers. The USDA has not yet said whether farmers will be expected to make loan payments during the shutdown, but the agency policy during the 2019 was that farmers did not have to make loan payments until the shutdown was over.
In addition, farmers will not be able to enroll in farm bill conservation programs through the Natural Resources Conservation Service during a shutdown.
Will public schools be affected?
Public elementary, middle, and high schools will continue to operate because they rely primarily on state funding. Head Start programs are federally funded however their staff are not federal employees, meaning the vast majority of programs will remain open during a shutdown.
Head Start grant recipients operate on different funding schedules spread throughout the federal fiscal year. On October 1, most will still be using FY25 funds from their current award cycle. If a shutdown extends beyond a few days, programs with November 1 or later re-funding dates could be affected. Delays or outages to core systems caused by furloughs could prevent some programs from meeting payroll, creating a risk of temporary closures.
Will federal courts still be open?
Federal courts are expected to remain open and continue operations for at least two weeks after a shutdown begins. In prior shutdowns, the federal judiciary had the ability to remain open in some capacity and avoid furloughs by balancing court fees and other funds not dependent on Congressional appropriations. Some court proceedings may be delayed, however, if a lawyer from an executive branch agency who is involved in the case is furloughed.
Will assistance related to my federal student loans be affected?
Key activities at Federal Student Aid will continue for a few weeks, but a prolonged shutdown could disrupt the agency's ability to assist borrowers.
A shutdown could also delay the process for students applying to the FAFSA and seeking financial aid. State and school-based financial aid may still be available, so reach out to your school for guidance.
What will the impact of the shutdown be on local food banks who rely on The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)?
Pre-placed TEFAP orders that help local food banks stock their shelves will continue to ship. However, food banks will not be able to place new orders through TEFAP or CSFP. In a prolonged shutdown, this could create food shortages, even as the need for food assistance increases in communities across America.
TRAVEL IMPACTS
Can I get a passport during the shutdown?
The U.S. Passport Agency remains open during the shutdown and continues to issue passports. However, depending on where you live, the State Department could curtail issuing passports where those passport services are offered in buildings run by another agency that is shut down.
Will my travel plans be impacted?
Although air traffic controllers, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials are all deemed essential, there could be significant delays and longer wait times for travelers at airports across the country. During the 2019 shutdown, several flights were canceled or delayed when Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents and air traffic controllers called off work due to the loss in pay. There is also currently a shortage of air traffic controllers employed in U.S. airports that could make travel disruptions even more likely.
Before you travel, plan ahead. Check with your airline about cancellations and delays, give yourself a cushion if you're booking connecting flights, and leave extra time to get through airport screenings.
Can I apply for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Pre-Check and Global Entry during the shutdown?
During the 2018-2019 partial shutdown, TSA PreCheck applications were accepted. Global Entry appointments for enrollment, however, were canceled.
Will I be able to continue visiting the national parks during the shutdown?
Services such as restrooms, visitors' centers, campgrounds, information kiosks, trash removal, and interpretative programs are all closed during the shutdown. The vast majority of National Park Service employees are furloughed. Also, law enforcement staffing is sharply curtailed, so visitors' safety will be put at risk.
Public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service, including Forest Service recreation areas, will either close or operate with skeleton crews. Past shutdowns led to illegal timber harvesting of old growth trees, vandalism, and illegal camping.
Will the Smithsonian Museums continue to be open during the shutdown?
The Smithsonian museums are closed during the shutdown.
GENERAL IMPACTS
Which federal departments are affected by the Trump Shutdown?
At the moment, the following federal departments are affected by the Trump Shutdown: Homeland Security, Treasury, Agriculture, Interior, HUD, Justice, Commerce, Transportation, Defense, Veterans Affairs, HHS, Education, Labor, Energy, and State. In addition, numerous critical smaller independent agencies, including EPA, the Small Business Administration, and NASA, are affected.
How many federal employees have to work without pay during the Trump Shutdown?
More than four million federal workers are expected to miss some pay during the shutdown. As the nation's largest employer, furloughing four million workers — putting them temporarily out of work — would be the equivalent to laying off the combined global workforces of both Walmart and Amazon.
On top of millions of federal workers going without pay, the Trump Administration is now using a potential shutdown as an excuse to unlawfully fire thousands of federal workers. President Trump and Congressional Republicans are using workers as collateral damage in their political games instead of focusing on keeping the government open.
90% of EPA staff will be furloughed,
Who does and doesn't get paid during a government shutdown?
The majority of federal workers will not report to work during the shutdown and will not be paid until the shutdown ends. These furloughed workers will receive back pay when they return to work.
Other federal workers who are deemed essential to public safety will report to work during a shutdown, but these workers will not be paid or receive back pay until the government starts up again. These workers include:
- In-hospital medical care
- Air traffic controllers
- Law enforcement
- Military personnel
- Power grid workers
There are a few exceptions to which federal workers will report to work and will receive pay during the shutdown. This is because the agencies they work for are either self-funded, or they have received enough funding from the Republican's Big Ugly Bill, or they are mandated by law to continue to receive pay, and therefore will continue to operate as normal. These agencies and positions include:
- The United States Postal Service (USPS)
- Members of Congress
- The President
However, there are many federal contractors who will be furloughed and will not receive back pay once the shutdown ends.
Will the federal employees forced to work without pay during the shutdown receive the pay for their work when the shutdown is over?
Yes. Under federal law, those federal employees forced to work without pay in the shutdown are guaranteed the pay they have earned when the government re-opens.
Will the federal employees who were placed on unpaid furlough during the shutdown receive back pay when the shutdown is over?
That will be up to the Congress and the White House. Legislation would have to be enacted. The precedent has been that furloughed employees are later paid, through legislation – after every previous shutdown, Congress has passed legislation mandating that furloughed workers get paid. I support passing such legislation again.
HEALTH & SAFETY IMPACTS
What is the impact on FDA's food safety activities?
During the Trump Shutdown, the FDA will be unable to support a number of its food safety activities. In prior shutdowns, the FDA has furloughed 40 percent of its employees. As a result, it will have to reduce its routine inspections of domestic food facilities. For example, in the 16-day GOP shutdown in 2013, the FDA had to delay nearly 360 food safety inspections.
Will FEMA and the National Weather Service continue disaster operations and monitoring?
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) should still respond to emergencies, but long-term projects will be delayed due to a lack of funding for the Disaster Relief Fund.
Federal disaster operations and weather forecasting would likely continue, even if the government shuts down. Roughly 85 percent of the 25,000 federal disaster employees are exempt from furloughs, according to a Sept. 19 memo from the Department of Homeland Security. The National Weather Service has said that it would continue to issue warnings and watches.
What impact will there be on organizations that enforce workplace safety and workers rights?
The Labor Department will furlough more than 75 percent of its staff during a government shutdown, which will pause certain workplace safety inspections. The department will retain a small cadre of lawyers to keep active litigation from lapsing. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Mine Safety and Health Administration will still respond to life-or-death situations. Limited oversight will also continue at Job Corps centers to protect students and federal property. However, DOL will halt all other enforcement activity, new grantmaking, broader rulemaking and its scheduled economic releases.
OSHA and MSHA will also pause routine workplace safety visits, training and outreach, focusing only on emergencies involving imminent danger, fatalities, mine accidents or looming legal deadlines. The National Labor Relations Board, which regulates private-sector labor disputes, and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which adjudicates employment discrimination claims, will furlough nearly all of their employees as well. The NLRB will stop taking new cases, elections and rulings. The EEOC will halt investigations but will still accept new discrimination charges.
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
I'm a Federal retiree. Will I still receive my monthly annuity payment during a government shutdown?
Yes. Federal retirees under the CSRS and FERS retirement systems will still receive their scheduled annuity payments on the first business day of the month.
I recently retired from Federal service. Will my retirement application be delayed by a government shutdown?
If your agency or payroll center submitted your retirement application to OPM, you will begin receiving interim annuity payments while OPM Retirement Specialists process your application. Because OPM Retirement Services is funded by the trust fund it manages, OPM Retirement Services employees will still be working normal operating hours during a government furlough. If your agency or payroll center has not yet submitted your retirement application or the application is incomplete, you will likely experience some delay as OPM must wait on other agencies to submit all of the information needed to process your retirement. Some of these agencies may not be operating during a government furlough.
Will an employee continue to be covered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program during a shutdown furlough if the agency is unable to make its premium payments on time?
Yes. The employee's FEHB coverage will continue even if an agency does not make the premium payments on time. Since the employee will be in a non-pay status, the enrollee share of the FEHB premium will accumulate and be withheld from pay upon return to pay status.
What happens with military personnel?
All military personnel performing active duty will continue on a normal duty status. Civilian personnel who are necessary to carry out or support excepted activities will also continue in normal duty status. Military exchanges will remain open while stateside commissaries would likely close.
I am a veteran, will I still be able to receive healthcare?
Veterans will still be able to receive their health benefits. The VBA will continue processing those claims that are in the current queue, but will not accept new claims during the shutdown.