What To Know In Case of a Government Shutdown

This page will continue to update as we receive more information.

A government shutdown happens when Congress fails to pass one or more of the 12  funding bills for the agencies that make up the federal government. A full government shutdown occurs when the funding has run out for all 12 funding areas, whereas a partial shutdown occurs when funding has run out for only some areas. Currently, House Republicans are holding spending bills hostage with demands that include extreme and harmful policies that will limit access to abortion, cut important social programs, and more. 

The first deadline at midnight on March 1st includes the following four appropriations areas: Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration; Energy and Water Development; Military Construction and Veterans Affairs; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. If Congress does not act before this deadline, a partial government shutdown will occur impacting only the agencies and services funded by these four appropriations bills.

The second deadline at midnight on March 8th includes the remaining eight appropriations areas: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Defense; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; Legislative Branch; and State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. If Congress does not act before midnight on March 8th, a full government shutdown will occur.

During a shutdown, impacted areas of the government can only spend money on “essential” services, which means that many day-to-day government operations will be forced to stop. You can see some of the direct impacts on your community here.

What will happen to my pending casework?

If the funding for the first four appropriations areas listed above is not finalized by March 1st, casework related to veterans affairs and housing may be impacted and subjected to longer processing times. 

If the legislative branch is not funded by March 8, our office will be closed to walk-ins but our casework team will continue to work remotely without pay to respond to urgent cases. You can contact our district office team at bowman.casework@mail.house.gov or at the phone numbers listed on our website. 

Please keep in mind that many federal agencies will furlough employees and be working at reduced capacity so processing times may be slower. We appreciate your patience and kindness as our team does their best to respond to casework requests. 

What about immigration cases?

Immigration cases will likely be delayed. Approximately 60,000 immigration court hearings for non-detained respondents were canceled during the last shutdown.

Will I still get my Social Security checks?

Yes. During a government shutdown, recipients will continue to receive their Social Security and Supplemental Security Income checks.  However, wait times for benefits and claims support will be longer due to staff furloughs, and some processes like verification of benefits will be suspended. 

Will Medicare and Medicaid be interrupted?

No, Medicare and Medicaid will operate normally during the shutdown. Medicare’s open enrollment period and the Affordable Care Act’s open enrollment period will not be impacted. The shutdown will slow implementation of the Biden administration’s Medicare drug pricing negotiations. 

What will happen to SNAP, WIC, and other nutrition assistance?

Recipients of SNAP will receive benefits through March because the USDA is authorized to send out SNAP benefits for 30 days, however the status of the benefits after that is uncertain. During the last shutdown, the government nearly ran out of funds for SNAP, which would have slashed benefits for 40 million people. 

Unfortunately, the vast majority of the seven million participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) will see an immediate reduction of benefits during the shutdown. Some states, likely including New York, may be able to temporarily supplement this funding to support state residents. 

Will I still have access to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits?

Because TANF is funded by the government but distributed by state agencies, this will depend on your state policy. During a government shutdown, it is likely that the federal government will need to halt its quarterly TANF payments to states, but many state governments, including New York, will likely continue providing benefits and services without interruption.

How will the Republican shutdown impact veterans and military personnel?

During a government shutdown, VA clinics and medical facilities will be open so veterans will continue to have access to health care. Other benefits will also continue to be available, like housing benefits and pensions, but VA call centers and hotlines will be closed and Veterans Benefits Administration will not be available for contact. 

Regional VA offices that serve the public will close, and some resources will be restricted, including outreach, career counseling, and transition assistance. Previous shutdowns have also increased the disability claims backlog. If the shutdown lasts more than a few weeks, disability payments may be stalled.

While the military will continue to report for duty, most will do so without pay. Many civilian employees at the Department of Defense, such as military technicians, will be furloughed. Other programs like the National Guard may also furlough employees and stop operations.

Will my mail still arrive?

Yes, your mail will still arrive. The U.S. Postal Service is not funded by the federal government, so it will not be affected by a government shutdown.

What about the Republican shutdown’s impact on public health and safety?

During a shutdown, the Food and Drug Administration stops most of its food safety activities, including food safety inspections and drug authorizations. 

The Environmental Protection Agency also significantly rolls back its inspections of hazardous waste sites and drinking water facilities, which means there could be risks to drinking water and delays in addressing dangerous contaminants and forever chemicals. 

Will public school and child care be affected?

A Republican shutdown could interrupt school funding, since a shutdown beyond one week would limit the cash flow to school districts, colleges, and universities. Additionally, 10,000 children across the country would immediately lose access to Head Start preschool programs.

Students may also lose access to free and reduced cost lunch programs across the country, even though thousands more kids would become eligible when parents are furloughed.

Will I be able to visit national parks? What about Smithsonian museums?

Smithsonian museums will be closed during the shutdown. Most National Park Service employees will be furloughed and essential services like restrooms, visitors’ centers, and campgrounds will be closed. 

How will student loans and financial aid be impacted?

Borrowers are still expecting to make payments. Key activities at Federal Student Aid will continue, but a prolonged shutdown may impact the agency’s ability to assist borrowers.

There could also be some disruption to student aid programs, including Pell Grants, which will continue disbursing funds until their money runs out. Department of Education operations, like processing FAFSA, disbursing Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans, and servicing Federal student loans can continue but they may be limited.

Can I get taxpayer assistance from the IRS during the Republican shutdown?

Yes, but it may be difficult. Because of new funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, the IRS has said that they will still be open and operational, although they most likely will furlough some workers which can slow down processing times.

Because the IRS has never experienced a shutdown in the middle of filing season, there is some uncertainty about how they will operate. Taxpayers are still required to submit their tax return by April 15, even if the government shuts down, otherwise they will be subject to penalties and late fees. The IRS expects to be able to process electronic refunds like usual, even if we enter a shutdown. If a tax return has issues that need to be resolved, it would be difficult to do that during the shutdown because the IRS will be operating at a reduced capacity. For taxpayers filing a hard copy of their return, they should expect a delay in receiving their refund. The IRS recommends filing electronically to get your return as quickly as possible. 

Taxpayer Assistance Centers across the country will also be closed. 

What about housing assistance?

Households will continue to receive U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) assistance through the end of the year, but a longer shutdown may impact access to rental assistance. Housing Choice Vouchers, public housing, and Project-Based Rental Assistance are funded on a calendar year cycle, but a prolonged shutdown period could lead to delays in renewing contracts. 

Monthly assistance, like public housing subsidies, housing choice voucher subsidies, and multifamily assistance contracts will continue for as long as the funding lasts. The broader financial uncertainty caused by a shutdown could also lead public housing agencies to stop reissuing housing vouchers. 

Federal Housing Administration-insured loans and mortgages may be delayed in processing and approval as staff is furloughed. 

How will this affect FEMA natural disaster clean-up efforts?

It’s unclear how FEMA recovery efforts in Hawai’i, California, and other places impacted by recent natural disasters will be impacted. FEMA workers can still respond to emergencies, but during the shutdown, FEMA will likely only respond to the most severest disasters and hardest-hit communities.

How will the Republican shutdown impact small businesses?

A shutdown will stop federal loans to small businesses. The Small Business Administration will stop approving applications for small businesses to obtain loans and loan guarantees, which average around $1 billion per month. If you have an SBA loan, your repayments are still due and it’s a good idea to check with your lending institution about how the government shutdown affects your loan. 

Small businesses also rely on contracts with the federal government to sustain their businesses. The House Committee on Small Business reported that a shutdown could cause small businesses to forgo $301.6 million on a daily basis. If drawn out, the shutdown could result in layoffs and downsizing among small businesses. 

Can I get a passport?

Yes, but expect even more significant delays than the ones we’re currently experiencing. The U.S. Passport Agency will be open during the shutdown and will continue to issue passports. However, in some places passport services are offered in buildings run by another agency that will be shutdown. In these places, the State Department may limit or stop its passport processing altogether. 

Will my travel plans be impacted?

A shutdown will force tens of thousands of air traffic controllers and TSA personnel to work without pay, which could cause significant delays and longer wait times at airports across the country. 

How many federal employees will be impacted?

There are 4 million federal employees who will be impacted immediately. Some will be deemed “essential” and have to work without pay, including FBI and DEA agents, Secret Service, and Customs and Border Protection. 

Will they get paid?

Government employees deemed essential will work without pay during the shutdown. Others will be placed on unpaid furlough for the duration of the shutdown. Furloughed and essential workers will receive back pay when they return to work once the shutdown ends.

Essential workers who will report to work without pay include in-hospital medical care personnel, air traffic controllers, law enforcement and military, and power grid workers.

Some federal workers will continue working and will receive pay during the shutdown because the agencies they work for are self-funded, they have received funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, or they are mandated by law to continue to receive pay. These include USPS workers, the Federal Reserve, the IRS, Members of Congress, and the President. 

There are also many federal contractors who will be furloughed and will not receive back pay once the shutdown ends.