Federal Government Shutdown: Frequently Asked Questions

If a funding agreement is not reached between Congress and the Administration by 12:01 A.M. Wednesday, October 1st, the federal government will enter a shutdown. 

If you have questions about this shutdown and what it might mean for you, below you will find more information about what’s going on and what services may be impacted. Please know that I am doing everything I can to bring Congressional Republicans back to the negotiating table to re-open the federal government as soon as possible.

In the event of a government shutdown, my DC and district offices will be available to assist you and your family. You can call our district offices at (609) 438-6290 or our DC office at (202) 225-3765 with questions.

What is a federal government shutdown? Why does it happen?

  • Every year, Congress must pass legislation to fund government operations for the upcoming fiscal year. If a new bill, or a temporary measure to keep funding at current levels (known as a Continuing Resolution or “CR”) isn't enacted by the deadline, the government must shutdown due to a lack of authorized funding.
  • Each government agency has its' own contingency plans for how to operate during a federal shutdown. Many agencies will have to stop or reduce the essential services they provide during this lapse in funding, as well as furlough non-essential employees and have essential employees work without pay.

What does a federal shutdown actually mean for services I rely on, like my mail?

Rest assured, your mail will be delivered. Beyond that, the short answer is: it depends.

Many essential services will continue to run during a government shutdown, such as:

  • Medicaid and Medicare
  • Social Security benefit payments
  • Veteran’s healthcare at the VA
  • Visa and passport applications
  • FEMA emergency responses
  • Military operations

However, many important services will cease to operate:

  • The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) will quickly run out of funding and be unable to provide food for children and parents in need.
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits may also be affected.
  • No new applications for housing loans
  • No new small business loans
  • No new social security beneficiaries
  • Food safety inspections will stop
  • Many national parks will close.

How will a shutdown impact federal employees?

  • Federal workers bear the brunt of government shutdowns. Typically, most are furloughed, but some are considered essential and have to continue working without pay. Federal employees who work during a shutdown don’t get paid until the shutdown ends - including the military. This is a large reason for the delays in services that you may experience during a shutdown.

  • The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act – passed after the 2018 shutdown – requires federal employees who are furloughed or required to work during a lapse in appropriations to be compensated for the period of the lapse. After a federal government shutdown ends, all employees must be paid immediately for the time lapsed. 

I have an issue with a federal agency, can your office still help?

  • Rest assured, our Constituent Service Representatives will still be here to help you with your federal agency issues. However, response times from federal agencies may be slower than normal, depending on the agency, due to staff furloughs. During a federal government shutdown, many federal departments and agencies furlough workers, so their help desks may have little or no staffing.

Will I continue to receive my Social Security?

  • A shutdown should not expected to impact Social Security benefit payments.
  • Please be aware that new benefit verification and card issuance services cease during a shutdown, meaning new recipients may see delays in processing their claims.

I rely on food programs like SNAP and WIC - will I keep getting my payments?

  • The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) will quickly run out of funding and be unable to provide food for children and parents in need. In the case of a prolonged shutdown, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits may also be affected.

Will immigration applications still be processed?

  • Immigration court cases on the detained docket should still proceed, while non-detained docket cases will be delayed until funding resumes.

  • The Department of Homeland Security estimates that Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement should retain the majority of their employees during a shutdown.

Will Medicare or Medicaid be interrupted?

  • Medicare and Medicaid should still continue during a federal government shutdown, but you may experience difficulty reaching these agencies as some employees are furloughed. Some communications from the agency may be stalled or outdated.

Will I receive my tax refund?

  • As of now, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has not released an updated plan for operating during a potential shutdown. During previous shutdowns, taxpayer phone calls, taxpayer disputes and tax refunds were delayed.

Do military personnel continue working?

  • The Department of Defense will continue defending our nation and all military personnel will continue their usual duty. However, service members will not receive pay during a government shutdown.

Can veterans still get treatment at VA or access other services?

  • In the case of a government shutdown, there should be no expected impact on Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities, and almost all of VHA employees will remain on the job. However, employees performing medical and prosthetic research would be furloughed.
  • Moreover, access to benefits under the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) should still continue.
  • The National Cemetery Administration’s (NCA) burial, scheduling of burials, first notice of death, and headstone processing functions should continue. Oversight and direct administration of the NCA program offices (Veterans Cemetery Grants Program, Engagement and Memorial Innovations, Cemetery Development and Improvement Service, Finance, Legislative and Regulatory Service, etc.) would cease.

What will be the impact on federal housing loans?

  • During a federal government shutdown, the Federal Housing Administration will stop approving applications for housing loans. This will create major delays for approval of development, rehabilitation, and refinancing of properties. 

Should I cancel my upcoming travel plans?

  • You can and should continue to enjoy your travel plans. TSA officers and air traffic controllers are considered essential and will report to work throughout a shutdown. Both TSA officers and air traffic controllers would work without pay during a shutdown, so please have patience with any delays. However, with Trump’s threats to fire more federal employees if a shutdown goes into effect, this could change.

  • During the last shutdown, travel was temporarily shut down at LaGuardia airport and caused delays at other major airports, including Newark and Philadelphia.

  • Passport applications should still continue to be processed during a shutdown. 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, should remain open during a federal government shutdown.

  • All services at international embassies and consulates should continue during a shutdown. If you are abroad and need help, you can contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

What does this mean for disaster relief efforts?

  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) staff should still respond to emergencies, but all long-term projects will be delayed due to a lack of funding in the Disaster Relief Fund.

Will student loans continue to be disbursed?

  • Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans should still continue to be obligated and disbursed during a federal shutdown, but only as long as carryover and mandatory appropriations last. 

  • Department staff needed to carry out and support these functions are significantly reduced during a federal shutdown. Free Applications for Student Aid (FAFSA), Pell Grant, and Federal Direct Student Loans, and servicing of federal student loans should continue for a “very limited time” under a shutdown. If a federal government shutdown continues for an extended period of time, school districts, colleges, and universities may begin to experience funding shortages due to lapsed federal funding.

What is the impact on small businesses?

  • A federal government shutdown will impact federal loans to small businesses. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will not accept, review or approve any new business loans for small businesses.

Do national parks and monuments close?

  • National Park closures will be determined on a location-by-location basis; open-air parks and monuments in Washington, D.C. will likely remain accessible. Smithsonian museums may also be impacted by a lengthy shutdown. Many services and facilities would be affected – including visitor centers, educational programs, restrooms, trash collection, and road maintenance. There would also be limited emergency/rescue services and safety updates would not be published. Please keep this in mind when planning any visits to national parks.

I'm traveling to Washington, D.C. - will my tours still take place?

  • Unfortunately, no. The tour guides and visitor centers of federal government buildings are considered non-essential and will be closed during a shutdown. This means that all tours of the U.S. Capitol, White House, and FBI Building will be canceled during a shutdown.