Government Shutdown Resources

Updated 10/08/25 

For Rep. Chu's statement on the Republican Shutdown please click here.

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Please note: These resources draw on guidance from prior shutdowns and the most up-to-date information currently available from federal agencies. The Trump administration has not been fully transparent with its shutdown plans and Trump himself has made threats to manipulate a shutdown for political gain, change agency operations significantly, and use civil servants as pawns by firing them en masse as he has been all year. Funding for the federal government expired at midnight on October 1. I am working to reopen critical services for families in our community while lowering health care costs. Sadly, Republicans are continuing to push a partisan spending bill that takes health care away from working families. To help you plan for a possible federal government shutdown, my office has prepared answers to these frequently asked questions. You can also contact my office.

What is a government shutdown?

The Constitution grants Congress authority over the federal government’s finances, so the federal government can only spend money that is appropriated by Congress.  Every year, Congress is required to approve spending bills prior to October 1, marking the start of a new fiscal year. Failure to do so by the end of September means there will be a lapse in funding, and all nonessential government functions must stop.

How does this affect Federal Employees and Contractors?

Currently there are 2 million federal government employees in the United States. The majority of federal workers will not report to work during the shutdown and will not be paid until the shutdown ends. These paychecks will not show up until after a funding deal is struck. Under a 2019 law, all federal workers are guaranteed to receive back-pay once the funding impasse is resolved. Federal workers and contractors who are furloughed or terminated contractors may apply for unemployment in the state where they work (see below). 

Other federal workers who are deemed essential to public safety will report to work during a shutdown, but these workers will not be paid or receive back pay until the government starts up again. These workers include: in-hospital medical care; border protection; air traffic controllers; law enforcement; military personnel; and power grid workers.

There are a few exceptions to which federal workers will report to work and will receive pay during the shutdown. This is because the agencies they work for are either self-funded, or they have received enough funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, or they are mandated by law to continue to receive pay, and therefore will continue to operate as normal.

Can Federal Employees and Contractors obtain unemployment compensation?

Federal workers and contractors who are furloughed have a right to apply for unemployment benefits—even if they believe they will get their jobs back. Federal contractors are eligible for benefits under their state UI program here https://edd.ca.gov/en/unemployment/ .

Federal workers can apply for Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE), a federal/state program in which eligibility and benefits are mostly determined by state law, and applications are filed with the state UI agency. 

It is critical that workers understand that if they apply for and receive benefits, but later receive back pay (as most federal employees, but not most contractors, have after previous shutdowns), they will have to repay the UI benefits they received. Since 2019, all federal employees (but not contractors) are guaranteed back-pay whether they were deemed essential or furloughed. 

I’m not a Federal Employee, how will the government shutdown affect me?

Various federal government programs will experience varying degrees of impact, described below:

Social Security

Seniors will still receive their Social Security checks during a government shutdown. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit payments will continue through the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2026. However, seniors applying for retirement claims and those seeking customer service help are all likely to experience longer wait times due to staff furloughs and longstanding staffing shortages. SSA field offices and the national 1-800 number will be staffed and open, but the public should anticipate longer wait times. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will continue taking and processing benefit applications, issuing or replacing SSN cards, and responding to most customer problems.

However, there are several customer services at SSA that will be discontinued, including the processing of in-person or phone requests for “benefit verifications,” which are used by beneficiaries needing proof of income. Those seeking benefit verifications will need to obtain them online through an SSA.gov account. SSA will also discontinue overpayments processing, earning record corrections, and replacing Medicare cards during a shutdown.

Medicare/ Medicaid

Medicare and Medicaid services will remain operational, but enrollees who need to reach customer service support may have trouble reaching these agencies as some employees are furloughed. 

Taxes

Thanks to funding secured in President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was able to continue its normal operations through the end of October 7th. Now that the government shutdown has extended beyond October 7th, the IRS has begun to furlough employees. However, the IRS has not yet released a contingency plan for its operations past October 7th. 

Food Assistance

• WIC: Some states, including California, will be able to keep the program running a little longer using leftover funding that has not been spent yet. California WIC will continue to serve and enroll families during a shutdown, as long as it has funding. Families should continue to use their benefits and attend appointments. For additional information you can visit the state’s website here.  
   
• SNAP/CalFresh: SNAP recipients should receive SNAP benefits in October. If the shutdown stretches beyond a couple of weeks, however, benefits in November could be impacted and the over 40 million Americans who depend on SNAP each month will struggle to afford groceries. The California Department of Social Services will issue updated guidance as needed. During any shutdown, stores are not able to renew their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card licenses, so those whose licenses expire would not be able to accept SNAP benefits during a shutdown.
   
• Food Banks: Pre-placed TEFAP orders that help local food banks stock their shelves will continue to ship. However, food banks will not be able to place new orders. In a prolonged shutdown, this could create food shortages, even as the need for food assistance increases in communities across America.

Safety Inspections

The federal government will suspend most safety inspections for drinking water, food, worksites, and hazardous sites. The agency responsible for food inspections, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will continue inspections of food being imported from outside the country. However, it will need to halt inspections of domestic food, where the FDA often tests for salmonella in breakfast cereal, E.coli in romaine lettuce, and listeria in ice cream.

Disaster Relief

During the shutdown, it is likely that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will only be responding to the most severe disasters and hardest-hit communities. Most employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are considered exempt and will be available for any emergency or disasters.

If you or someone you know are experiencing issues with FEMA during this time, please feel free to contact my office. 

Schools

Childcare and Early Learning: The Department of Health and Human Services will be unable to award federal grants to child-care centers, meaning some preschool and school readiness centers will close. This will lead to around 10,000 children nationwide immediately losing access to the Head Start program. 

K-12 and College: Public elementary, middle, and high schools will be able to rely on state funding and continue to operate. However, if the shutdown continues for an extended period, school districts as well as colleges and universities may begin to experience funding shortages due to lapsed federal funding.

Veterans

VA Medical Centers, Outpatient Clinics, and Vet Centers will be open as usual and provide all services.

Pension checks, education, housing, disability, and GI benefits continuing to come on time. The VA’s primarily call center (1-800-MyVA411) and Crisis Hotline (Dial 988, press 1) will remain open 24/7. 

The VA will not provide career counseling or transition assistance during a shutdown. The VA’s GI Bill and National Cemetery Application assistance contact center, public affairs and outreach divisions, and benefits regional offices will be closed. There will be no grounds maintenance or placement of permanent headstones at VA cemeteries, and applications or pre-need burial at VA cemeteries will not be processed. 

Loans/Grants

• FHA Loans: The processing  of Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured loans may be delayed due to possible staff shortages.
• Small Business Loans: If you already have a Small Business Administration (SBA)-backed loan, your repayments will still be due. The Small Business Administration might continue to make loans for disaster preparedness and response, but will likely cease the processing of any other new SBA loans. Other SBA functions will be halted as well, such as the processing of certifications for small businesses seeking to become government contractors. Additionally, many of the SBA’s resource partners, such as the Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), will likely experience decreased capacity during a shutdown.   
• Student Loans:Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications will still be processed, and Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans will continue to be obligated and disbursed during a shutdown, but there may be delays and funds will be available only as long as carryover and mandatory appropriations last. Federal student loan payments are still due during a shutdown, so borrowers in repayment should continue making payments as usual.
• 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.
• Grants.Gov: Grants.gov will stay in operation, offering ongoing limited support through their help desk and administrative services for applicants. Please be aware that response times may be slower than usual.
• Funding Awards: Funding awards will stop during the shutdown.

Transportation and Travel

• General Travel: Last time the government shutdown, airports security experienced longer wait times due to shortages of TSA workers and air traffic controllers, so it’s smart to schedule yourself plenty of time before going to the airport.

• National Parks and Forests: National parks largely will remain open, but there are exceptions, and even those that are open may reduce services for visitors. Those who intend to visit National Parks should do so with caution as there will be limited staff and no rangers to help you. Educational programs, bathrooms, trash collection, etc. will not be operational

  Forest Service recreation areas, including Angeles National Forest, will either close or have reduced public access.

• Passports: Passport applications will be processed, and emergency passport appointments will be honored.
• International Travel: All services at American embassies and consulates abroad will continue during a lapse of appropriations. If you are abroad and need help, you can contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
• Travel To D.C.:Regrettably, tour guides and visitor centers of DC's government buildings will be closed. U.S. Capitol, White House, and FBI Building tours will be canceled during the shutdown. If you have a pre-planned tour during the shutdown, we encourage you to reach out to our D.C. office to reschedule after the shutdown ends, or for suggestions of activities unaffected by the shutdown.

Mail Delivery

The U.S. Postal Service will continue their services and will not be impacted by the government shutdown.

In CA-28, If House Republicans Shut Down The Government:

• Approximately 11,453 people, including 1,730 infants and 5,675 children, in CA-28 would soon lose access to Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits.
• 5,906 federal workers in CA-28 would be furloughed or forced to work without pay, in addition to the many employees of businesses with government contracts who could be laid off, furloughed, or see their hours cut.

In California, If House Republicans Shut Down The Government:

• 157,500 active duty personnel serving our nation's armed forces in California would be forced to go without the pay they earn during a shutdown.
• The Small Business Administration would stop processing small business loans, halting a program that provided over $4.726 million in funding to small businesses in California duringFiscal Year 2025.
• 178,407 people flying through California airports every day would face potential delays and safety concerns due to staffing impacts on TSA agents and air traffic controllers.
• Nearly 1 million people in California could lose access to Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits during a prolonged shut down.
• 150,679 federal workers in California would be furloughed or forced to work without pay, in addition to the many employees of businesses with government contracts who could be laid off, furloughed, or see their hours cut.
• Workers at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would be sidelined, risking interruptions and delays to the 3,001 food safety, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and other inspections already conducted in California this year.
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would be forced to continue delaying 78 disaster recovery projects in California.
• The Department of Agriculture would be forced to stop processing farm loans which provide $77,037,000 in funding for farmers in California every year.
• The Department of Agriculture would be forced to stop processing farm loans which provide $78,580,000 in funding for farmers in California every year.
• 5.3 million Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries in California would lose access to benefits in a prolonged shutdown.
• 38,237,347 people who visit national parks in California every year would be turned away or unable to fully access parks, monuments, and museums.