Government Shutdown FAQs and Resources
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN: HOW IT MAY IMPACT YOU
Funding for the federal government expired on September 30, 2025.
I’ve always been a strong advocate for bipartisanship, and I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to work together to find a commonsense compromise to keep the government open. I am committed to doing everything I can to make that happen.
A government shutdown may have serious impacts for Valley families. I want to make sure you have the right information on how a shutdown might affect you.
Each federal agency has its own contingency plan for a shutdown, and the effects can vary depending on how long it lasts. As time goes on, funds and resources may diminish, which could change how agencies operate and deliver services. Depending on the length of a shutdown, the below information about specific agencies may change.
At any time during a government shutdown, please reach out to my offices with questions or concerns. We will continue operations and are here to support you.
What Happens During a Government Shutdown
My Offices
In accordance with guidance from the House of Representatives Committee on House Administration, during a potential shutdown our office operations will continue in Washington and Merced. Call my offices to stay in touch: (202) 225-1947 (Washington, DC) and (209) 226-6880 (Merced). Send me an email here.
My staff will be available to continue to help with federal casework, but processing times with federal agencies could be delayed due to the shutdown.
Social Security
The Social Security Administration (SSA) will continue to operate and process disbursements. 6.5 million Californians receive Social Security benefits, which are expected to continue going out during a shutdown.
However, the SSA will begin to scale back some services, including issuing Social Security cards and holding appointments for benefit applications. SSA will stop services like benefit verifications and processing overpayments. Customer service wait times will likely increase.
To get help with Social Security benefits during a shutdown, call my office in Merced at (209) 226-6880.
Unemployment Benefits
Federal unemployment benefits will continue to be dispersed to the California Employment Development Department (EDD). Unemployed workers will continue to receive benefits, and people who have exhausted their current benefit tier will progress to the next tier.
For more information, please contact the EDD at http://www.edd.ca.gov/.
Military and Federal Retiree Benefits
Military and federal retirees will continue to receive retirement benefits. Processing new applications or other requested changes will be delayed for the shutdown period.
Mail Delivery and Passports
Post offices and postal workers will continue to operate and deliver mail. Passport and consular services will continue but may be affected by a prolonged government shutdown.
For more information about the Postal Service, head to http://www.usps.com/.
Medicare and Medicaid
Current Medicare, Medicaid, and disability insurance beneficiaries will continue to receive benefits if a shutdown lasts less than three months.
Military Personnel
In a government shutdown, the Department of Defense will continue to defend our national security and all military personnel will continue in their duties. Servicemembers will not receive pay during the shutdown period, but will receive back pay once the shutdown ends.
Federal Employees
“Non-excepted” federal employees will be furloughed without pay until the government is funded. “Excepted” federal employees, such as members of law enforcement, active-duty military, TSA, and national security personnel, will continue to work without pay until the government is funded.
For more details on who will be affected by a government shutdown, visit the Office of Personnel Management: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/furlough-guidance/.
Government Contracts
During a government shutdown, the federal government will be unable to enter new contracts, halting the federal procurement marketplace and impacting businesses that are looking to do business with the federal government.
Head Start
Head Start providers could be impacted by a government shutdown almost immediately, depending on when they last received federal support and other funds. Most Head Start providers are funded through the end of the year and will likely continue to operate. For more specific information, please contact your Head Start provider.
Student Loans
Pell Grants and Federal Direct student Loans should continue to be disbursed, as long as federal funding lasts. Department of Education staff needed to continue these functions may be significantly reduced and wait times may be longer than usual.
If a federal shutdown continues for an extended period of time, school districts, universities and colleges may begin to experience funding shortages.
Housing
The Federal Housing Administration will stop insuring some new mortgages and the Department of Housing and Urban Development 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.
Likewise, a prolonged shutdown will impact the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, leading to increased energy costs.
For help with federal housing agencies, call my Merced office at (209) 226-6880.
National Parks and Tours
Services that require National Park Service staff such as cleaning, trash removal, campground operation and concessions will be stopped. Closures will be determined on a location-by-location basis.
Open-air federal parks and monuments in Washington, DC, including the National Mall, will remain accessible.
Smithsonian museums will be impacted. For more information about Smithsonian closures, visit the Smithsonian Institution’s website here.
If you have tours scheduled through my office in Washington, DC, please call us at (202) 225-1947 for more information.
Nutrition Programs
In the short term, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Child Nutrition Programs (CNP), and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) benefits will continue to be accessible as long as funds are available. In the event of a prolonged shutdown, funding for these programs could run out as previously appropriated funds expire.
During a shutdown, grocery stores are unable to renew their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card licenses, so stores whose licenses expire will not be able to accept SNAP benefits during an extended shutdown.
Small Business Administration Programs
The SBA may continue to make loans for disaster preparedness and response. It will likely suspend loan processing and approval for all other major loan programs.
For the most up-to-date information about SBA programs in a shutdown, visit sba.gov.
For help with your small business loan, call my Merced office at (209) 226-6880.
Travel and Disaster Relief
Air traffic controllers, TSA officers, and Custom and Border Protection (CBP) agents will remain working without pay. Due to the shutdown, travelers may experience delays at airports due to likely increases in TSA staff absences.
Cal Fire’s ability to respond to fires will not be affected by a shutdown.
Veterans Benefits and VA Facilities
Veterans Affairs benefits, including pensions and disability checks, will continue to be processed and disbursed in a shutdown. Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities and clinics will remain operational.
However, veteran services like education and job training, support for veteran-owned businesses, and even assistance for homeless veterans will be impacted.
For help with your VA benefits, call my Merced office at (209) 226-6880.
Immigration
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) operations are typically continued during a shutdown.
For help with your immigration case, call my Merced office at (209) 226-6880.
Bureau of Reclamation and Federal Water Programs
Some administrative and technical staff will be deemed essential and continue operations including flood control, municipal and industrial water supplies and hydropower operations.
Have More Questions?
My offices will remain open and staffed throughout a government shutdown. Call us, send me an email, or visit my office in Merced for help.
Merced Office
602 W 20th Street, Suite B
Merced, CA 95340
Phone: (209) 226-6880
Washington, DC Office
1230 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-1947
This webpage will continue to be updated as more information becomes available from the federal government.