Government Shutdown Resources & FAQS
The federal government shuts down when Congress fails to agree on a budget bill that funds federal agencies and programs. These budgets sustain government operations through the end of each fiscal year, which concludes on September 30th. When no agreement was reached in time for the 2025 fiscal year, a shutdown began on Wednesday, October 1st, due to a lapse in federal appropriations.
To help navigate the shutdown, my staff has prepared answers to the questions we’re most frequently asked.
CASEWORK
During a shutdown, many agencies will have furloughed some of their staff, including their help desk. While we encourage you to call these agencies directly to see if they are able to assist you, you can also contact my office for assistance. My casework team will coordinate with federal agencies on your behalf and continue to provide you with updates.
My casework team is continuing to work on behalf of all CA-21 residents during the shutdown, including submitting inquiries to federal agencies, opening new cases, helping with paperwork, and pushing for updates on ongoing cases. Given agency closures and furloughs, wait time may be longer than usual.
SOCIAL SECURITY & SSI
Recipients will continue to receive their Social Security and SSI checks. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will provide limited services, such as issuing Social Security cards and holding appointments for benefit applications. However, SSA will stop some services, such as benefit verifications and processing overpayments, meaning that new recipients may see delays in claim processing times.
MEDICAID BENEFITS
Current beneficiaries of Medicare, Medicaid, and disability insurance will continue to receive benefits for at least three months. Community health centers will remain open, though some federally supported clinics may face disruptions. Subsidies under the current health care law remain in place. New applications and customer service wait times may be delayed due to limited staffing
VETERAN SERVICES
All Veteran Affairs (VA) medical facilities and clinics will remain operational. VA benefits will continue to be processed and delivered, including compensation, pension, education, and housing benefits.
Burials will continue at VA National Cemeteries, and applications for headstones, markers, and burial benefits processing will continue. However, department workers will not permanently place headstones or maintain the grounds at those sites.
The Board of Veterans Appeals will continue to make decisions on Veterans' cases. Suicide prevention programs, homelessness services, and caregiver support will continue.
Officials are shuttering several support phone services, including the GI Bill Hotline, until the funding impasse is resolved. Regional VA benefits offices will be closed, and public affairs outreach efforts will end. Career counseling and transition assistance programs are also halted.
MILITARY
Military and federal retirees will continue to receive their retirement benefits. Processing new applications or other requested changes will be delayed.
More than a million people serving in the military are now working without pay. The Pentagon cannot award new contracts or start new programs. Commissaries overseas will stay open; they and other services on bases in the U.S. will close or will be operating on a limited basis. Elective surgeries and procedures in military medical and dental facilities will be postponed.
FOOD ASSISTANCE
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will be funded through October – though in the case of a prolonged shutdown, this program could also be affected. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) will continue at the state and local level, but federal funding is expected to stop; if you are a recipient of WIC, you can likely expect lower payments.
The Agriculture Department food safety inspectors, stationed at the nation’s meat and poultry slaughterhouses, will remain on the job, however, without pay. The FDA, which oversees approximately 80 percent of the U.S. food supply, will have to triage its preventive food safety work.
The Farm Service Agency will stop payment processing of remaining disaster assistance, approve, process, or obligate loans, and respond to general inquiries.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service will stop processing contract payments and agreements.
HOUSING
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will stop insuring some new mortgages, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will stop processing some new loans. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) will stop new loan and loan guarantee activity. The VA will continue to guarantee home loans. Funding for federal housing assistance programs, such as Housing Choice Vouchers, may be jeopardized in a prolonged shutdown.
SMALL BUSINESSES
The Small Business Administration (SBA) will stop processing new business loans, such as through the 7(a) and 504 programs. However, SBA’s Disaster Loan Program will continue regular operations.
The U.S. Postal Service is not affected by a shutdown.
AIR TRAVEL
Air traffic controllers, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents will remain on the job without pay. Due to staffing issues, there may be significant delays and longer wait times across the country. The Department of Transportation will stop air traffic controller hiring, field training of air traffic controllers, facility inspections, and law enforcement assistance support.
PASSPORTS
Consular services, passport services, and visa services are expected to continue in the immediate aftermath of the government shutdown. In a prolonged shutdown, passport and visa issuance could be slowed. Access to passport agencies located in some government buildings may be limited.
DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) staff will still respond to emergencies, but all long-term projects will be delayed due to a lack of funding in the Disaster Relief Fund.
NATIONAL PARKS
Parks will remain partially open. Park roads, outlooks, trails, and some memorials will remain open to the public. Restrooms will remain open, and trash should be collected. Buildings that require staffing, such as visitor centers or sites like the Washington Monument, will be closed. The agency is maintaining some law enforcement, fire suppression, emergency response, and power maintenance operations at most of the country’s 400-plus national parks, although 64% of NPS staff will be furloughed during the shutdown.
TAXES
The IRS is keeping all of its employees on the job for now. IRS will use special funding that Democrats enacted in 2022 to avoid furloughing any of its almost 75,000 employees for the first five business days after a funding lapse.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
Please feel free to reach out to my offices with any questions or concerns:
- Fresno Office: 2440 Tulare Street, Suite 240, Fresno CA 93721 (559) 495-1620
- Visalia Office: 425 E Oak Avenue, Suite 202, Visalia CA 93291 (559) 749-9330
- Washington DC Office: 2081 Rayburn HOB, Washington DC 20515. Phone: (202) 225-3341