Federal Government Shutdown FAQs

The federal government may enter a shutdown beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, March 15, 2025, if there is a lapse in federal government funding. 

As your member of Congress, I want to ensure you have the information you need regarding any potential 2025 federal government shutdown and how it might affect your everyday life. Below are some frequently asked questions about a shutdown and key information you need to know. 

In the event of a government shutdown, my DC and district offices will be available to assist you and your family. You can call our district offices at (215) 276-0340 or (215) 254-3400 or our DC office at (202) 225-4001 with questions and leave a detailed message. For constituent services (passports, IRS, immigration, VA casework, etc.), call either of my Philadelphia District offices.

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.

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

• During a federal government 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.
• During a shutdown, my office will continue to submit inquiries to federal agencies including requesting updates on constituents’ behalf, submitting paperwork, and opening new cases. We will continue providing you with any updates as soon as it is available.

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. 

Will I continue to receive my Social Security?

• A shutdown should not expected to 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?

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

Does USPS still deliver mail?

• All services under the U.S. Postal Service should still continue during a government shutdown.

Will Medicare or Medicaid be interrupted?

• Medicare and Medicaid should still continue during a federal government shutdown, but you may experience difficulty reaching these agencies as some employees are furloughed. Some communications from the agency may be stalled or outdated.

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.

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

• In the case of a government shutdown, there should be no expected impact on Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities, and almost all of VHA employees will remain on the job. However, employees performing medical and prosthetic research would be furloughed.
• Moreover, access to benefits under the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) should still 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 cease.

What will be the impact on federal housing loans?

• During a federal government shutdown, 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. 

Should I cancel my upcoming travel plans?

• You can and should continue to enjoy your travel plans. TSA officers and air traffic controllers are considered essential and will report to work throughout a shutdown. However, both TSA officers and air traffic controllers would work without pay during a shutdown, so please have patience with any delays.

• Passport applications should still continue to be processed during a shutdown. The Bureau of Consular Affairs/Passport Services is designated as an essential service provider and is funded through passport fees, so all of 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 can contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

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 lapse in congressional appropriations while non-detained docket cases will be reset for a later date when funding resumes. The Department of Homeland Security estimates that Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement should retain the vast majority of their employees during a shutdown.

Will I receive my tax refund?

• As of this writing, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has not released an updated plan for operating during a potential shutdown. During previous federal shutdowns, taxpayer phone calls, taxpayer disputes and tax refunds were delayed.

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 still continue to be obligated and disbursed during a federal shutdown, but only as long as carryover and mandatory appropriations last. 

• Department staff needed to carry out and support these functions are significantly reduced during a federal shutdown. Free Applications for Student Aid (FAFSA), Pell Grant, and Federal Direct Student Loans, and servicing of federal student loans should continue for a “very limited time” under a shutdown. If a federal government shutdown continues for an extended period of time, school districts, colleges, and universities may begin to experience funding shortages due to lapsed federal funding.

What is the impact on small businesses?

• A federal government 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.

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, White House, and FBI Building will be canceled during a shutdown.

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.