Government Shutdown Resources
What A Government Shutdown Means For You
Funding for a portion of the federal government expired on Friday, January 30, 2026. This differs from the shutdown we experienced at the end of 2025, when the entire federal government was shut down.
Only the federal agencies and departments funded by the following appropriations bills are impacted: Defense; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Labor, Health and Human Services; National Security Department State and Related Programs; Transportation; and Housing and Urban Development.
This includes the State Department, Social Security Administration, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Education, Department of Homeland Security, and more.
To help you stay informed during this 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. Agency operations may change as additional guidance becomes available. We will update this webpage as we receive new information. You can also contact my office at (330) 400-5350.
How has the government shutdown impacted you?
Tell us how your organization will be impacted by a government shutdown.
Help With A Federal Agency
I need help with a federal agency. What should I do?
Complete a Privacy Release Form at the following link: Help With A Federal Agency
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 the status of your case.
Food Assistance and Safety
What is the impact on food assistance programs?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has already been funded for Fiscal Year 2026, so the program should not be impacted by the 2026 government shutdown.
What is the impact on food safety activities?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been funded so all food safety activities — such as routine inspections of facilities — will remain operational.
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. Only federal employees whose salaries are funded by the following spending bills will be impacted:
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Defense
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Financial Services and General Government (FSGG)
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Homeland Security
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Labor, Health and Human Services (LHHS)
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National Security Department State and Related Programs
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Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD)
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.
I am a government contractor. What should I expect?
For the government agencies and departments impacted by this shutdown, 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 Social Security Administration (SSA) will continue to issue original and replacement Social Security cards during 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 to continue hearings and deciding cases as scheduled.
I submitted an application. Will that be processed?
Yes. SSA plans to processing applications for benefits, including appointments, corrections, requests for appeals, and post-entitlement actions. However, SSA will stop services like benefit verifications and processing overpayments.
How is Rep. Sykes fighting to reduce wait times and ensure timely responses from SSA?
Rep. Sykes introduced the bipartisan Guaranteed Uninterrupted Access to Retiree Disbursements (GUARD) Act to provide Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations funding for the SSA and to require the agency to continue responding to Congressional casework inquiries during any lapse in federal funding. The measure will prevent the furlough of more than 6,000 Social Security Administration employees and ensure that seniors, individuals with disabilities, and families continue receiving timely help with their Social Security benefits. Social Security is a lifeline for millions of Americans, and its services should never be held hostage to partisan gridlock
Medicare and Medicaid
Will Medicare and Medicaid benefits be affected?
Current Medicare, Medicaid, and disability insurance beneficiaries will continue to receive their benefits assuming the shutdown lasts less than three months.
I am on Medicare. Will I still be able to see my doctor?
Medicare benefits will continue during the 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 the 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. This section will be updated as more information becomes available.
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 employees and 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 the shutdown.
The status of future paychecks for servicemembers during the shutdown is unclear. I have 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, the VA has already been funded and therefore is not subject to this partial government shutdown. 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.
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.
Passports and Travel
I have an upcoming international trip and need to request or renew a passport. What should I expect?
Passport agencies 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 – remains under extreme stress and in urgent need of additional funds. Employees at FEMA are not expected to furloughed; 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 civil enforcement inspections, which includes inspections of 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 unless a failure in operations would pose an imminent threat to human life. The EPA will continue to provide emergency and disaster assistance and conduct law enforcement and criminal investigations.
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 the 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.
The shutdown may delay the processing or closing of your FHA-insured loan. Please contact your lender for the exact status of your FHA loan.
For more information, please see the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Contingency Plan here.
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?
During the shutdown, 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?
There will be no impact on the National Parks Service during this partial government shutdown, as it has already been fully funded for Fiscal Year 2026.
Internal Revenue Service
How does this partial government shutdown impact tax filing?
The partial government shutdown does not affect the tax filing and payment responsibilities of taxpayers.
Are there any exceptions?
The IRS granted extensions for taxpayers affected by terroristic action in the State of Israel throughout 2024 and 2025, generally postponing deadlines until Sept. 30, 2026.
Several states where federal disaster declarations were issued were granted an extension, and a complete list of those states and the postponed deadlines is available on Tax relief in disaster situations.
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 different grant-making agencies and offices impacted by the shutdown. 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) is 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.