2025 Government Shutdown

A Note from Greg before the FAQ:

Government funding is expiring at midnight on September 30, 2025. Ahead of this deadline, House Democrats tried to negotiate a bipartisan continuation of government funding with the Trump Administration – one that addressed another looming deadline, the expiration of critical Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits set to lapse at the end of 2025.

I am ready to negotiate in good faith to end this costly and unnecessary shutdown. However, I won’t allow this Administration to force through their agenda of health care cuts and higher prices. If Congress doesn’t act to extend health care tax credits, Arizona families will be forced to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars more out-of-pocket for coverage. I will continue working to come to a bipartisan agreement that ends the shutdown quickly and protects affordable health care for Arizonans.

As your Member of Congress, I want to provide you with the information you need regarding how the shutdown might affect you. Below are some frequently asked questions and key information you should know. During the shutdown, my district and D.C. offices will remain available to assist you. You can write to me and the team through this site or call 833-643-6114 with any questions.

FAQ:

What is a federal government shutdown? And who will be affected?

Each year, Congress must pass bills to approve funding for government agencies and services. If those bills aren’t passed on time, Congress can pass a short-term fix called a continuing resolution (CR) to keep money flowing until funding levels are ready.
If there’s no funding bill and no CR, the government shuts down because no funding has been approved.
Every agency has its own plan for shutdowns. Many agencies will have to stop or reduce the essential services they provide and furlough employees until the end of the shutdown. Other “essential” employees in agencies must keep working without pay until funding is passed.

I have an issue with a federal agency, can I still call them for help? Can you help me instead?

During a shutdown, many federal departments and agencies furlough workers, so their help desks may have little or no staffing.
You can contact my office to open a case for you, and we can contact an agency on your behalf and provide you with updates if they are open or when they re-open at the conclusion of a shutdown.
My office will continue to engage with federal agencies, including requesting updates on constituents’ behalf, submitting paperwork, and opening new cases. We will provide you with any updates as soon as it is available. Despite that, some agencies may not be able to process our requests until the government is funded.

Do furloughed federal employees get back pay?

Almost always. Under federal law (specifically, The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act), employees who are furloughed or made to work during a shutdown must be paid after it ends for the time the government was closed.

Will I continue to receive my Social Security?

A shutdown should not impact Social Security benefit payments.
New benefit verification and the issuing of new cards pause during a shutdown, so new recipients may see delays in processing their claims.

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

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

Does USPS still deliver mail?

Yes. The U.S. Postal Service should operate normally during a shutdown.

Will Medicare or Medicaid be interrupted?

Medicare and Medicaid should continue during a federal shutdown.
Communications from the agencies or reaching out for assistance may be difficult or impossible due to the temporary staff furloughs. Messages, updates, or support could be stalled or outdated.

Do military personnel continue working?

Yes, the Department of Defense will continue defending our nation and all military personnel will continue in their duties as usual, but servicemembers will not receive pay during a government shutdown.

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

Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities should not be seriously impacted, and almost all employees are expected to remain on the job. Employees performing medical and prosthetic research would be furloughed.
Access to benefits under the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) should 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 pause until the end of the shutdown.

What will be the impact on federal housing loans?

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 that will likely persist in the period following the shutdown.

What is the impact on small businesses?

The 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.

Should I cancel my upcoming travel plans?

Probably not — you can and should continue to enjoy your travel plans. TSA officers and air traffic controllers are considered essential, but please have extra patience as many support staff will be furloughed and some staff may be working without pay.
Passport applications should continue to be processed during a shutdown. All 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 should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

I'm traveling to Washington, D.C. — will my tours still take place? What will be closed?

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.
The Smithsonian has said all museums will continue operating until funding runs out. They said this will likely be until at least Monday, October 6.
Other federally run sites such as the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court, and the U.S. Botanic Garden will also likely remain closed throughout a shutdown.

Do national parks and monuments close?

While official guidance has not been published as of the time of writing, in past shutdowns it has depended on the site. Some parks and open-air memorials may remain open without staffing, but services — including visitor centers, restrooms, trash pickup, and road maintenance — can be limited or unavailable.
There would also likely be limited emergency rescue services and safety updates would not be published. Please keep this in mind when planning any visits.

Will immigration applications still be processed?

Visa and passport operations are fee-funded and not normally impacted by a shutdown.
Immigration court cases on the detained docket should still proceed during a shutdown, while non-detained docket cases will be rescheduled to a later date once funding resumes.
The Department of Homeland Security estimates that Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should retain most of their employees and continue their work during a shutdown.

Will I receive my tax refund? Do I still need to file my taxes if I got an extension?

If you filed for a six-month extension for your tax returns in April, you are still required to file by October 15.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is expected to maintain normal operations during a shutdown, meaning tax refunds and support should remain available.

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 continue until remaining funding runs out.
Free Applications for Student Aid (FAFSA), Pell Grant, and Federal Direct Student Loans, and servicing of federal student loans should continue for a limited time during a shutdown.
In the case of a prolonged shutdown, school districts, colleges, and universities may begin to experience funding shortages due to lapsed federal funding.

Will the federal courts shut down?

Federal Courts are expected to remain open until funding runs out on Oct. 3. Case Management and Electronic Case Files should remain available for those who fill out court documentation electronically.
Most proceedings and deadlines should take place as scheduled. During previous shutdowns, courts have paused deadlines or approved requests for delays in civil litigation involving the U.S. government and its agencies.
While Supreme Court Justices and judges are still expected to get paid, clerks, probation officers, and other judiciary employees would likely not during the shutdown.

When the government shuts down, how do you get it reopened?

Democrats want to keep government open. Right now, despite controlling Congress and the White House, Republicans don’t have the votes to do it alone, so they need Democratic support to get it done.
We are eager to negotiate a bipartisan agreement that addresses the health care crisis that the American people are facing.

2025 Government Shutdown