Government Shutdown Resources

Funding for the federal government expired on September 30. I am working to keep critical services up and running for families in our community while lowering health care costs. Sadly, Republicans would rather shut down the government and take health care away from working families than work to find consensus.

Regardless of a government shutdown, our office will remain open to assist you. Constituents of Texas' 32nd Congressional District who need assistance can submit their request here or reach one of our caseworkers via phone during normal business hours at our district office location. Please note that we will have a greatly reduced ability to assist constituents as many federal agencies will be closed due to the shutdown. If you have a comment or would like to share how a shutdown impacts you, please send us a message or reach out to our DC office at (202) 225-2231.

The Hatch Act is clear: federal employees cannot use government resources to promote or attack a political party. Yet the Trump Administration is using official agency websites and employee email accounts to push partisan blame for the shutdown onto Democrats. Oversight Democrats are compiling complaints, taking evidence, and researching Trump Administration illegal Hatch Act violations. Federal employees who witness violations, or who have evidence that their agency has altered out-of-office messages or websites to promote partisan attacks, should contact the Oversight Democrats’ Tip Line or use the Signal app (on your non-work device) at 202-924-2065.

What is a Government Shutdown?

Congress is responsible for passing Appropriations bills that fund everything from veterans’ benefits to federal employees’ paychecks to environmental inspections. The deadline for passing yearly appropriations is October 1. When Congress fails to meet its deadline, and federal government agencies and programs lack budget authority to continue operating, agencies experience a ‘funding gap.’ When this happens, certain operations must cease unless authorized otherwise by law. When the funding gap applies to many federal entities, it is commonly referred to as a government shutdown.

Resources

The Office of Management and Budget is compiling a list of contingency plans across the Federal Government for a possible lapse in appropriations. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has published an in-depth explanation of the causes, processes, and effects of a government shutdown and a list of Frequently Asked Questions. The US Office of Personnel Management has guidance on furloughs for federal employees and federal contractors.

Impact on Specific Agencies and Departments

Armed Services - Department of Defense

All military personnel would continue their normal duty status but would not be paid. Civilian personnel who are necessary to carry out excepted activities would continue to work, but would not be paid - of the 741,000 civilian personnel, almost 410,000 would remain at work. Any civilian personnel that are not necessary would be furloughed.

Education - Department of Education

Federal Student Loans

Key activities at Federal Student Aid will continue for a few weeks, but a prolonged shutdown could disrupt the agency’s ability to assist borrowers.
A shutdown could also delay FAFSA processing.

Head Start

Head Start programs receive funding directly from the Federal government. The length of time each individual program will have the funding on hand to remain open will vary by site. Please contact your child’s Head Start program for more information.

Environment

Department of the Interior and the National Parks

Most National Parks will remain open during the government shutdown, drawing on Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act funds collected at NPS sites to pay for skeleton crews of staff. Parks without accessible areas will be mostly shut down with no visitor services such as trash collection, permitting, and bathroom maintenance.

Federal Workers

More than four million federal workers are expected to miss some pay during the shutdown.
The Trump Administration is also now using the shutdown as an excuse to unlawfully fire thousands of federal workers. President Trump and Congressional Republicans are using workers as collateral damage in their political games instead of focusing on keeping the government open.

Who Gets Paid

All federal employees will receive back pay for the shutdown period once the government reopens.
Examples of essential employees who will be required to work without pay during the shutdown:
- In-hospital medical care
- Air traffic controllers
- Law enforcement
- Military personnel
- Power grid workers
There are a few exceptions to which federal workers will report to work and will receive pay during the shutdown.
- Those agencies are either self-funded, or they have received enough funding from the Republican’s Big Ugly Bill, or they are mandated by law to continue to receive pay, and therefore will continue to operate as normal.
  - Ex: the United States Postal Service (USPS)
Federal contractors are not guaranteed back pay once the shutdown ends.

Health Care

Medicare & Medicaid

Medicare and Medicaid are deemed mandatory programs and benefits will not be disrupted by the shutdown. The shutdown will not affect Medicare’s open enrollment period beginning October 15 or the Affordable Care Act’s open enrollment period beginning November 1.

CHIP & Exchange

Payments to eligible states for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) will continue. Federal Exchange activities, such as eligibility verification, using Federal Exchange user fee carryover, will continue.

Housing & Utilities

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

The NFIP is unable to issue new policies in the height of hurricane season. This could threaten over 1,300 home sale closings each day, potentially locking thousands of families out of the dream of homeownership or putting them at risk if their home sales proceed without coverage.

Disaster Relief

HUD and NFIP would also be limited in providing critical disaster relief. HUD, which is responsible for the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, would be unable to deploy new funding and may only have access to previously obligated funds. The NFIP would also largely be unable to pay out flood insurance claims as its ability to borrow funds from the Treasury would be reduced from over $30 billion to $1 billion during a shutdown and its flood mapping process would ultimately come to a halt.

United States Postal Service (USPS)

During a shutdown, the United States Postal Service operations will continue unimpeded, as they are self-sustaining.

Small Business

Small Business Administration

During a shutdown, the SBA will stop new loan approvals or provide Program support for the CDC 504 Loan Program, 7(a) Loan Program, and Microloan Program.

SNAP & WIC

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) recipients will not be impacted immediately, but could be affected the longer the shutdown continues.

Social Security

Social Security and SSI Checks

During a government shutdown, recipients will continue to receive their Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) checks. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will continue to issue original and replacement Social Security cards and process applications for benefits and appeals. Field offices will be open, and the national 1-800 number will be running.
Based on previous government shutdowns, some Social Security services may be affected, such as benefit verifications and overpayment processing, which recipients often need when applying for assistance programs. This can cause delays in recipients having their entitlement claims processed. Discontinued activities also include FOIA requests, Medicare card replacement, and trainings.

Taxes and Treasury

Tax Filings & Refunds

If you are filing your 2024 taxes with a valid extension, you are still required to file by the October 16 deadline. You may experience significant delays in processing tax refunds due to staffing shortages caused by the government shutdown.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Due to supplemental funding available in the Inflation Reduction Act, normal IRS operations will continue.

Transportation and State Department

TSA & Air Travel

Although air traffic controllers, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials are all deemed essential, there could be significant delays and longer wait times for travelers at airports across the country. During the 2019 shutdown, several flights were canceled or delayed when Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents and air traffic controllers called off work due to the loss in pay.
There is also currently a shortage of air traffic controllers employed in U.S. airports that could make travel disruptions even more likely.
During the 2018-2019 partial shutdown, TSA PreCheck applications were accepted. Global Entry appointments for enrollment, however, were canceled.

Passports

The U.S. Passport Agency is expected to remain open during the shutdown and continue to issue passports. However, some offices and services may be limited if those offices are in buildings run by another agency that is shut down.

Department of Veterans

VA Resources & Services

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. Based on previous government shutdowns, 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I continue to receive my Social Security and SSI checks?

Recipients will continue to receive their Social Security and SSI checks. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will provide limited services like issuing Social Security cards and holding appointments for benefit applications. However, SSA will stop services like benefit verifications and overpayment processing. Customer service wait times will dramatically increase.

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.

What happens to veterans' services?

All Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities and clinics will remain operational. The VA will continue to process veterans’ benefits. However, veterans will be affected by the shutdown of other services that they count on, including education and job training, support for veteran-owned businesses, and even assistance for homeless veterans.

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, while the employees classified as "not excepted" are put on unpaid furlough.

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.

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 my mail still arrive?

Yes. The U.S. Postal Service is not affected by a shutdown.

How does this affect passports and help for Americans overseas?

Consular services, passport services, and visa services are expected to continue in the immediate aftermath of a government shutdown. In a prolonged shutdown, passport and visa issuance could be slowed. Access to passport agencies located in some government buildings may be limited.

What is the impact on food assistance?

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.

What is the impact on housing?

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will stop insuring some new mortgages and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will stop processing some new loans. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) will stop new loan and loan guarantee activity. The VA will continue to guarantee home loans. Funding for federal housing assistance programs, such as Housing Choice Vouchers, may be jeopardized in a prolonged shutdown.

Will air travel be affected?

Air traffic controllers, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents will remain on the job without pay. If some do not report to work, as has happened in prior shutdowns, there will be significant delays and longer wait times across the country.

What does this mean for disaster relief efforts?

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

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.

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.

How will this affect small businesses?

The Small Business Administration (SBA) will stop processing new business loans, such as through the 7(a) and 504 programs. However, SBA’s Disaster Loan Program will continue regular operations.

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.

Will I still be able to visit National Parks and monuments?

Across the country, services that require National Park Service staff — including trash removal and operating campgrounds and concessions — may be stopped. 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.

What is the impact on state and local services?

The federal government shutdown will not immediately affect any 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.

DALLAS COUNTY RESOURCES

Food Security

Housing Assistance

Immigration/Legal Services

Education (students grant/loans/support)

Legal Services

Unemployment Assistance

Issues: Congress