Federal funding for the government expired as of 12:00AM of October 1, 2025. Due to that lapse in government funding, we are currently in a shutdown.
How did this happen?
Funding for the federal government has expired. My Democratic colleagues and I spent these past days and weeks working to keep critical services up and running for families and fighting to ensure healthcare benefits for millions of Americans are not eliminated.
Sadly, Republicans continued to push a partisan spending bill that takes health care away from families and raises premiums for tens of millions.
What does a shutdown mean?
Broadly, a government shutdown means hundreds of thousands of federal workers will be furloughed. Servicemembers, federal law enforcement officers, TSA agents, and Border Patrol will remain on the job but will be forced to work without pay. Disaster relief and environmental protection will be stalled. Even food inspections that keep consumers safe will be slowed down. Some agencies will be shuttered entirely, with serious impacts to those who rely on them.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not shared an estimate of how many federal workers are expected to be furloughed or go without pay. President Trump has threatened to manipulate a shutdown for political gain, change agency operations significantly, and use civil servants as pawns by firing them en masse in a continuation of this administration’s unconstitutional firings of federal workers earlier this year.
Below, I’ve compiled some frequently asked questions about government shutdowns, the impact of the government’s current operating procedures, and what that impact may mean for you and your loved ones. I will continue to update this webpage with relevant information for as long as this GOP shutdown persists. Meanwhile, in Washington, I’ll do all I can to push House Republicans to do what is right and come to the table with Democrats to put a stop to this shutdown and pass a budget that prioritizes the health and wellbeing of working families.
Shutdown FAQs
Will I continue to receive my Social Security and SSI checks?
Yes. Recipients will continue to receive their Social Security and SSI checks.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) will continue providing limited services like issuing Social Security cards and holding appointments for benefit applications. However, SSA will stop some activities like benefit verifications and processing overpayments and the public will likely experience increased wait times for customer service.
Will I still be able to use my Medicare or Medicaid?
Yes. Medicare, Medicaid and disability insurance will be largely unaffected by a shutdown lasting less than three months. Current beneficiaries will continue to receive their benefits.
How will veterans be impacted?
Veterans’ health care will not be affected by the shutdown. Benefits will continue to be processed and delivered, including compensation, pension, education, and housing benefits.
Access to some Veterans’ Affairs (VA) resources will be restricted, including outreach, career counseling, transition assistance, and cemetery grounds maintenance. Regional VA offices that serve the public will close.
Will military and federal retiree benefits be suspended?
Military and federal retirees will continue to receive their retirement benefits. Processing of new applications or other requested changes will be delayed.
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 placed on unpaid furlough. Under the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, all federal employees are retroactively paid for the duration of the shutdown upon its conclusion. Donald Trump has threatened to needlessly fire thousands of federal workers during a shutdown, as he has been trying to do all year.
What is the impact on U.S. military personnel and federal law enforcement?
In previous shutdowns, all active-duty and Guard and Reservists on active-duty orders were excepted and therefore required to work. On-base non-acute health care ceased, but off-base care provided through Tricare was not affected. On-base childcare remained open on a case-by-case basis. Federal law enforcement officers were also required to work. Both military personnel and federal law enforcement will work without pay until after the shutdown is over.
Will my mail still arrive?
Yes. The U.S. Postal Service is not affected by a shutdown.
Will commercial air travel be affected?
In prior shutdowns, air traffic controllers, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents remained on the job. However, like all federal employees, they will not be paid until the shutdown is over.
Will I be able to visit national parks, monuments, and museums?
It is expected that National Parks will largely remain open, according to a shutdown contingency plan released by the National Park Service (NPS).
The plan states that ‘park roads, lookouts, trails, and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to visitors.’ The plan also says that basic visitor services will be provided in parks with accessible areas to collect recreation fees—those basic services include maintaining restrooms and sanitation, trash collection, road maintenance, campground operations, law enforcement and emergency operations, though these functions may be subject to change.
Visit NPS.gov to keep up to date on changes to these current protocols.
Will assistance related to my federal student loans be affected?
The Department of Education will continue to distribute student aid, including Federal Direct Student loans and Pell Grants. Student loan borrowers will still be required to make payments on their debt. Further, schools, states and other grantees will continue to be able to access funds from awarded grants.
New grantmaking activities, however, will stop. Guidance, technical assistance, and regulatory actions will also pause, unless required for otherwise funded activities.
For more information see the Education Department’s contingency plan.
Will my passport renewal still be processed?
Yes. Passport applications will continue to be processed. The Bureau of Consular Affairs/Passport Services is designated as an essential service provider and is funded through passport fees, so all of Passport Services, including agencies and the National Passport Information Center are expected to remain open.
While passports will continue to be processed, delays are possible if a shutdown is prolonged.
What is the impact on small businesses?
In prior shutdowns, the Small Business Administration (SBA) stopped processing new business loans, such as through the7(a) and 504programs. However, SBA’s Disaster Loan Program continued regular operations.
What is the impact on federal housing loans?
In prior shutdowns, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) stopped insuring some new mortgages and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) stopped processing some new loans. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) also stopped new loan and loan guarantee activity. The VA will continue to guarantee home loans.
What is the impact on disaster relief efforts?
FEMA staff will still respond to emergencies. In prior shutdowns, long-term projects were delayed due to a lack of funding in the Disaster Relief Fund.
Will I still be able to receive and use SNAP benefits/food stamps during a shutdown?
Yes, for now. 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 may be affected. If the shutdown lasts more than 30 days, there could be bigger impacts on the program.
Can I still use WIC benefits during a shutdown?
Yes, for now. During the shutdown, WIC will continue to enroll families and provide services as long as funding is available. WIC families should continue to use their WIC benefits and attend their appointments.
What is the impact on food safety activities?
In prior shutdowns, some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food safety activities—such as routine inspections of facilities—were delayed.
I'm coming to DC, will my tours still take place?
Unfortunately, tour guides and visitor centers of DC's government buildings are considered non-essential and have been closed. This means that all tours of the U.S. Capitol and FBI Building have been canceled during the shutdown.
Further, as of September 1, 2025, the White House has indefinitely suspended public tours in light of President Trump’s planned construction of an approximately $200 million new ballroom.
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Last Updated: 10/1/2025
The impacts of government shutdowns are wide-ranging and subject to change. We will continue to update this resource with the latest information.
