Government Shutdown

Summary:

The federal government entered a shutdown effective 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, due to a lapse in federal funding.

As your representative in Congress, my priority is to keep you informed about how a federal government shutdown may affect your daily life. To help you plan for a possible federal government shutdown, my office has prepared answers to these frequently asked questions.

Throughout the shutdown, both my DC and district offices remain available to support you and your family. For questions, please contact the district office at (718) 358-MENG or the DC office at (202) 225-2601. For help with constituent services—including matters related to passports, IRS, immigration, VA casework, and more—please reach out directly to my district office.

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

Every year, Congress must pass legislation to fund government operations for the upcoming fiscal year. If a new appropriations bill isn't enacted by the deadline, Congress needs to pass a temporary measure, known as a continuing resolution (CR), which sustains the government's funding at its current level. In the absence of an approved appropriations bill or a CR, the government faces a shutdown due to lack of authorized funding.
Each government agency has its own contingency plans for how to operate during a federal shutdown. Many agencies will have to stop or reduce the essential services they provide during this lapse in funding, as well as furlough non-essential employees and have essential employees work without pay.

Do furloughed federal employees get back pay?

The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act – passed after the 2018 shutdown – requires federal employees who are furloughed or required to work during a lapse in appropriations to be compensated for the period of the lapse. After a federal government shutdown ends, all employees must be paid immediately for the time lapsed.

Do military personnel continue working?

The Department of Defense will continue defending our nation and all military personnel will continue their usual duty. However, servicemembers will not receive pay during a government shutdown.

Will I continue to receive my Social Security?

A shutdown should not impact Social Security benefit payments.
Please be aware that new benefit verification and card issuance services cease during a shutdown, meaning new recipients may see delays in processing their claims.

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

Unfortunately, the vast majority of the seven million participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program will see an immediate reduction in benefits during the shutdown.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients will continue to receive assistance as normal for the month of October but could be affected if the shutdown goes into November and later.
The local SNAP offices operated by the New York City Department of Social Services will remain open. New applications will continue to be accepted online through ACCESS HRA and at SNAP centers during a shutdown.
Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards will continue to work normally, and you can be used at any participating retailer or farmers market. SNAP benefits are available on EBT cards for 274 days from the date they are issued. To check the available benefits on a SNAP account, clients can visit the state OTDA website at ebtEDGE.com or by calling 1-888-328-6399.
Summer EBT benefits will also continue to remain available for 122 days from the date of issuance. For more information visit: Summer EBT .

Will I still have access to Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), including cash assistance?

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 state governments will have the option to continue providing benefits and services without interruption.

Will Medicare or Medicaid be interrupted?

Medicare and Medicaid benefits will not be interrupted during a government shutdown.
Both programs are funded through mandatory spending, not annual appropriations, so coverage and payments continue as usual.
However, certain administrative and support services, such as processing new applications or handling specific requests, could face delays if agency staff are furloughed
Essential services—including ongoing medical coverage and payments—remain in place regardless of the shutdown.

Does USPS still deliver mail?

All post offices will remain open and mail delivery will not be interrupted during the shutdown.
USPS is an independent agency funded primarily through the sale of postage and services, not through federal appropriations, so its operations are not affected by lapses in government funding.

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

Veterans can continue to receive treatment at VA medical centers, clinics, and Vet Centers during a government shutdown.
Essential services—including health care, ongoing benefits (like compensation, pension, education, and housing), crisis support lines, and burials—will remain available and are not interrupted.
However, some services such as VA regional benefits offices, career counseling, and transition assistance programs may be temporarily closed or suspended until funding resumes.
Routine and emergency medical care, as well as key benefits, will continue without disruption throughout the shutdown period.

What will be the impact on federal housing loans?

In prior shutdowns, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA)stopped insuring some new mortgages and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) stopped processing some new loans.
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) also stopped new loan and loan guarantee activity.
The VA will continue to guarantee home loans.

Will my travel plans be impacted?

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.
Before you travel, plan ahead. Check with your airline about cancellations and delays, give yourself a cushion if you’re booking connecting flights, and leave extra time to get through airport screenings.

Will I be able to request or renew a passport?

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.

Will immigration applications still be processed?

During a government shutdown, most immigration applications processed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will continue as normal because USCIS is primarily funded by application fees rather than congressional appropriations.
This means forms like H-1B, L-1, I-140, I-485, and premium processing are expected to proceed. However, some programs funded by appropriations, such as E-Verify and select special immigrant programs, may be suspended.
Immigration court cases on the detained docket should still proceed during a lapse in congressional appropriations while non-detained docket cases will be reset for a later date when funding resumes.

Will I receive my tax refund?

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.

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 assistance related to my federal student loans be affected?

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 the process for students applying to the FAFSA and seeking financial aid. State and school-based financial aid may still be available, so reach out to your school for guidance.

What is the impact on small businesses?

In prior shutdowns, the Small Business Administration (SBA) stopped processing new business loans, such as through the7(a) and 504programs.
However, SBA’s Disaster Loan Program continued regular operations.

I'm traveling to Washington, D.C. - will my tours still take place?

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, Library of Congress, U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Treasury, and FBI Building will be canceled during a shutdown.
Tours of the White House are still suspended indefinitely due to construction.
If your tour is canceled because of the shutdown, please feel free to request alternative dates here for when these sites reopen.
See the individual websites of each tour destination for the most updated information.

Do national parks and monuments close?

National Park 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. Many services and facilities would be affected – including visitor centers, educational programs, restrooms, trash collection, and road maintenance. There would also be limited emergency/rescue services and safety updates would not be published. Please keep this in mind when planning any visits to national parks.