Government Shutdown Resources
What A Government Shutdown Means For You
Funding for the federal government expires on September 30, 2025. To help you plan for a possible federal government shutdown, my office has prepared answers to these frequently asked questions. It is important to know that, in the past, agencies and others may have operated differently. We will update this webpage as we receive new information. You can also contact my office at (330) 400-5350.
Tell us how your organization will be impacted by a government shutdown.
I recently contacted your office and opened a case with a federal agency. What should I expect?
Things will vary from agency to agency. Some agencies will process cases, while others will not. Generally speaking, you should expect delays. You can contact our office for details about your case.
Federal Employees
Which federal employees keep working during a government shutdown?
When the government shuts down, federal agencies are required to classify their employees whose salaries have lapsed as either "excepted" or "not excepted." The employees classified as "excepted" work without pay during the shutdown. The employees classified as "not excepted" are put on unpaid furlough.
I am a federal employee. Will I receive back pay for furloughed days?
Yes. After the 2018-2019 partial shutdown, Congress passed the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act, which requires retroactive pay for furloughed employees following the end of a government shutdown. Generally, benefits such as health insurance continue during a shutdown furlough; however, federal employees may need to wait until they are returned to pay status before they can adjust their benefits.The Office of Personnel Management's website also provides general guidance.
The Trump administration has announced that there could be mass layoffs of federal employees in the event of a government shutdown. Who will be laid off and how will federal employees be notified?
Agencies will determine which employees will continue to work through a shutdown. We are awaiting additional information from agencies about their staffing plans and will update the website once that information is made available.
I am a government contractor. What should I expect?
Government facilities will be closed. No new contracts or modifications will be issued, and there will be delays in the acquisition process for procurements.
Social Security
Will I continue to receive my Social Security and SSI checks?
Recipients will continue to receive their Social Security and SSI checks.
I lost my Social Security card. Can I request a replacement card?
Yes. The SSA will continue to issue original and replacement Social Security cards in the event of a government shutdown, but you should expect delays because of decreased staff capacity.
I have a hearing scheduled. Will that still occur?
Yes. The SSA plans on continuing hearings and deciding cases as scheduled.
I submitted an application. Will that be processed?
Yes. SSA plans on processing applications for benefits, including appointments, corrections, requests for appeals, and post-entitlement actions. For detailed guidance from the SSA on the potential lapse in Federal appropriations and resulting partial shutdown of agency operations, click here. However, SSA will stop services like benefit verifications and processing overpayments. Customer service wait times will dramatically increase.
Medicare and Medicaid
Will Medicare and Medicaid benefits be affected?
Current Medicare, Medicaid, and disability insurance beneficiaries will continue to receive their benefits assuming a shutdown lasts less than three months.
I am on Medicare. Will I still be able to see my doctor?
Medicare benefits will continue during a government shutdown and health care facilities will still accept Medicare patients.
I am on Medicaid. Will I still be able to see my doctor?
Medicaid benefits will continue during a government shutdown and health care facilities will still accept Medicaid patients.
Will I be able to file a Medicare claim?
During the 2019 shutdown, there was no disruption in the processing and payment of Medicare claims.
Will Federally Qualified Health Centers continue operating?
Day-to-day operations will depend on the clinic’s individual funding and you should contact your preferred health center for further guidance.
Servicemembers And Veterans
What is the impact on U.S. military personnel and federal law enforcement?
All active-duty and Guard and Reservists on active-duty orders are excepted and therefore are required to work without pay. On-base non-acute health care will cease, although off-base care provided through Tricare will not be affected. On-base child care will be open on a case-by-case basis. Federal law enforcement will also be required to work without pay for the duration of a shutdown.
I’ve introduced the bipartisan Pay Our Military Act, which would provide appropriations for pay and support for all members of the Armed Forces, civilian personnel at the Department of Defense, members of the Coast Guard, necessary contractors, and reservists during a government shutdown, ensuring no servicemember would be forced to work without pay. This legislation is currently pending in the House of Representatives.
Will military and federal retiree benefits be suspended?
Military and federal retirees will continue to receive their retirement benefits. Processing new applications or other requested changes will be delayed.
Will VA clinics and hospitals continue operating?
Yes. You will still be able to get your prescriptions filled and make appointments with medical providers in the same way you did before the shutdown. All Veteran Health Administration (VHA) agencies will remain open and functional during a government shutdown.
I am a veteran. Will I receive my pension on time?
Yes. You will still receive your pension checks on time.
I am a disabled veteran. Will I receive my benefits on time?
Yes. You will receive your disability benefits on time.
I am a veteran student who receives benefits under the GI Bill or the Veterans Educational Assistance Program. Will I continue to receive payments on time?
Yes. You will receive your GI Bill benefits on time. If you are under the Veterans Educational Assistance Program, you will receive your payments on time, as well.
Food Assistance and Safety
What is the impact on food assistance programs?
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients should expect to receive their monthly allotment and retailers will continue to accept SNAP benefits. SNAP applications and the ability for employees at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to send out new benefits could be affected by a shutdown. If the shutdown lasts more than 30 days, there could be bigger impacts on the program.
I introduced the Feed Our Families Act, which would appropriate three months of funding into the SNAP reserve fund so families who rely on SNAP can continue to access their benefits during a government shutdown. This legislation is currently pending in the House of Representatives.
Other nutrition programs, such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), may only continue at the state and local level while resources remain available.
What is the impact on food safety activities?
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food safety activities — such as routine inspections of facilities — will be delayed across the country.
Passports and Travel
I have an upcoming international trip and need to request or renew a passport. What should I expect?
Passport agencies will remain fully operational. Passport applications will be processed and emergency passport appointments will be honored.
I am a United States' citizen living abroad. Will the local United States embassy be open?
Yes. During the 2018-2019 partial shutdown, United States embassies remained open to some degree, but U.S. citizens living abroad should prepare for delays in any application or processing requests as staff furloughs may occur.
Please note, hours of operations and service impacts may vary at each facility. You can check which embassies and consulates may be impacted here.
I have flights booked for an upcoming trip. How will this affect my travel?
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials operating ports of entry are considered essential workers and will report to work without pay. Ports of entry–including airports–will remain open, and inspection of noncitizens seeking to enter the U.S. will continue. In prior shutdowns, there have been some delays and long wait times at TSA checkpoints.
Can I apply for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Pre-Check and Global Entry?
During the 2018-2019 partial shutdown, TSA PreCheck applications were accepted. Global Entry appointments for enrollment, however, were canceled.
Immigration
If I have an interview or appointment with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), should I attend?
Yes. During the 2018-2019 partial shutdown, biometrics appointments and interviews continued to be scheduled and conducted.
I have a pending application with USCIS. Will it continue to be processed?
During the 2018-2019 partial shutdown, USCIS continued to operate as usual, including accepting and adjudicating immigration-related applications and petitions. At this time, it is our understanding that a potential shutdown would most likely be handled similarly.
I am a business owner and am hiring new employees. Can I use E-Verify to verify a new hire’s eligibility to work?
During the 2018-2019 partial shutdown, E-Verify services were suspended.
Disaster Relief
Will the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) be operating if there is a natural disaster?
During prior shutdowns, most of FEMA's workforce was able to be dispatched to emergencies, but their funding source–the Disaster Relief Fund–is currently under extreme stress and in urgent need of additional funds. Employees at FEMA are not expected to be put on furlough; however, limited funds may impact FEMA’s ability to respond fully to an emergency. FEMA is currently limiting rebuilding projects in order to preserve funds for life-saving emergency response.
How will this affect environmental protection and cleanup?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will stop inspecting most hazardous waste sites, as well as drinking water and chemical facilities. Efforts to address dangerous contaminants like PFAS — which are linked to severe health effects, including cancer — will be delayed, and cleanup activities at Superfund sites will slow or cease.
Housing
I am in the middle of buying a house. Will my Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured loan still close?
FHA will have limited staff during a shutdown and the processing or closing of FHA-insured loans may be delayed. The longer the shutdown lasts, the more serious the impact will be. All FHA underwriting and processing requirements would remain in force during the government shutdown and no loan may be endorsed that does not fulfill those requirements.
A shutdown may delay the processing or closing of your FHA-insured loan. Please contact your lender for the exact status of your FHA loan.
I am facing foreclosure on an FHA-backed loan. Does the clock stop?
No. Most loss mitigation for homeowners facing foreclosure (including FHA loan modifications, FHA-HAMP, etc.) will continue.
I have an ongoing contract with HUD that has been funded. Can I continue to work on the contract?
It depends. Only contracting officers may instruct vendors regarding changes to the contract terms and conditions during a government shutdown. For more information, please see the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Contingency Plan here.
How will this impact Housing Choice Vouchers?
Funding for federal housing assistance programs, such as Housing Choice Vouchers, may be jeopardized in a prolonged shutdown.
Small Businesses
Can I apply for a small business loan?
If the government shuts down, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) typically stops processing new loans and approving routine small-business loans. However, SBA’s Disaster Loan Program will continue regular operations.
I am waiting on a small business loan. What should I expect?
Processing for most SBA lending programs will be on hold while the agency's employees are furloughed. All Houston SBA employees will be furloughed. Some disaster functions at SBA will continue, but at a limited level.
Postal Service
Will my mail still arrive?
In the event of a government shutdown, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will continue to deliver the mail.
Will post offices continue operating?
USPS operations will not be interrupted in the event of a government shutdown, and all post offices will continue to operate as usual.
National Parks
Will national parks, monuments, and museums be open?
It is not yet clear whether the country’s 63 national parks will remain open during a potential shutdown. In 2013, the administration closed national parks because of safety concerns. During the 2018-2019 partial shutdown, national parks remained open to the public, but many services—including restrooms, information desks, and trash collection—were paused. Some states paid to keep their parks open during the 2018-2019 partial shutdown. It is likely that there would be limited emergency and rescue services at national parks.
In Washington, D.C., operations at the Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo have varied. During the early 2018 shutdown, Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo remained open to the public. During a separate shutdown that lasted between December 2018 and January 2019, however, these locations remained open for the first 11 days of the shutdown, before being forced to close for the remainder of the shutdown (24 days). The Smithsonian Institute has yet to issue guidance on its plan should a shutdown occur this year. Open-air national parks such as the National Mall and its memorials and monuments will remain open, but with limited access. Staffed services at these locations will be unavailable.
Internal Revenue Service
I requested an extension to file my taxes. What should I expect?
If you requested and were granted a federal tax extension, you still have until October 15 to file your tax return.
Grants
Will I be able to use grants.gov to search for and apply for grants on behalf of my organization?
Grants.gov will remain operational and continue to provide limited help desk and administrative assistance to applicants; however, response times may be delayed.
Will applications submitted through grants.gov be processed and reviewed throughout the shutdown?
This varies between the 26 different grant-making agencies and offices. Please contact your agency or office of interest for further guidance or click here for federal agency guidance.
Will funding awards be announced during the shutdown?
Agencies that are closed during the shutdown will not announce awards.
Students
I have a federally issued student loan. How will this impact payments and administration of student loans?
The Department of Education will continue to issue loans and process Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications. If you have federal student loans, you should continue to make your payments on time.
Medical Research
What does this mean for medical research?
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be forced to delay new clinical trials. New patients who are waiting for a chance at new treatment through a clinical trial will be turned away.
What is the impact on state and local services?
The federal government shutdown will not immediately affect state or local services. However, with federal funding cut off, some state or local governments may have to change their operations. Check with state and local agencies for specific questions.