Government Shutdown FAQs
As your Member of Congress, I want to ensure you have the information you need regarding any potential 2025 federal government shutdown and how it might affect you. Below are some frequently asked questions about a shutdown and key information you need to know.
What is a federal government shutdown?
The government shuts down when Congress is unable to pass appropriations bills to fund government operations before the next fiscal year, which begins on October 1, 2025.
What happens if the government shuts down? Do federal employees still get paid?
Each government agency has its own procedures for a shutdown. Many agencies would have to stop or reduce their services due to lack of funding.
Federal employees would be either furloughed — meaning prohibited from work and unpaid — or required to work without pay. When the government reopens, federal employees would receive immediate back pay. Government contractors usually do not receive back pay after shutdowns.
What government services continue during a shutdown?
Essential services related to national security and public safety would continue, though they may face disruptions. Essential services include inpatient and emergency medical care, air traffic control, law enforcement, border security, disaster aid, and power grid maintenance.
Due to staffing shortages during a shutdown, there could be delays to many federal services, including food assistance, small business loan applications, water quality and food safety inspections, as well as at the IRS, leading to longer refund processing times and phone wait times.
What if I need help with a federal agency during a shutdown?
During a shutdown, many federal departments and agencies would furlough workers, so they could be short on staff to help you.
Our offices would remain open and able to help you navigate issues with federal agencies. To get help with a federal agency, submit a request here or call one of our district offices: the Flint office at (810) 238-8627 and the Saginaw Township office at (989) 898-6060.
Would I continue to receive my Social Security payments?
A shutdown should not affect your Social Security benefit payments.
However, new benefit verification and card issuance services would stop during a shutdown, meaning new recipients could see delays in processing their claims.
Would a shutdown affect Medicare and Medicaid?
Medicare and Medicaid should continue during a shutdown, but you could experience difficulty reaching these agencies as staff are furloughed. Some communications from the agencies could be stalled or outdated.
Would the government still deliver mail?
All U.S. Postal Service activity would continue during a shutdown.
Would a shutdown affect food assistance programs like SNAP and WIC?
Unfortunately, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) could quickly run out of funding and soon be unable to help hungry children and parents in need. Depending on how long the shutdown lasts, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits could also run out of funding.
I serve in the military — how would a shutdown affect me?
During a shutdown, all military personnel would continue their usual duty serving our country. However, they would not be paid until the shutdown ends.
Would veterans still be able to get treatment at VA or access other services?
There should be no impact on Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities, and almost all of VHA employees will remain on the job. Access to benefits under the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) should also continue.
VHA employees performing medical and prosthetic research would be furloughed.
Would immigration applications still be processed during a shutdown?
Visa and passport operations are not normally impacted by a shutdown. Immigration court cases on the detained docket should still proceed, while non-detained docket cases would be reset for a later date when the government reopens.
How would a shutdown affect small business loans?
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) would not accept, review, or approve any new business loans for small businesses.
What would a shutdown mean for my student loans?
Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans would continue as long as remaining funding lasts, although the staff needed to carry this out would be reduced.
Free Applications for Student Aid (FAFSA), Pell Grant, and Federal Direct Student Loans, and servicing of federal student loans would continue for a limited time, but if the shutdown continued for an extended period of time, school districts, colleges, and universities could run out of funding.
I have travel plans in D.C. during the shutdown — would my trip be impacted?
Many attractions in D.C. would be closed during a shutdown, including tours of the U.S. Capitol, White House, and FBI Building. Smithsonian museums could also be impacted, while open-air parks and monuments would likely remain accessible. Please feel free to contact our office at (202) 225-3611 for assistance on making the most of your trip.
Would the shutdown affect travel to places other than D.C.?
You would still be able to travel during a shutdown. TSA officers and air traffic controllers would continue to work — though without pay, so please have patience with any delays.
Passport applications should still be processed during a shutdown. All services at international embassies and consulates should also continue. If you are abroad and need help, you can contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
National parks and other public lands could be shut down entirely or severely understaffed, leading to unsafe or unhygienic conditions. There would also be limited emergency/rescue services, and safety updates would not be published.
When would the shutdown end?
To reopen the government, Congress must pass new funding legislation, and the President must sign it into law. The funding bills follow the traditional legislative process, requiring approval from both the House and Senate before the President can sign them into law.