Frequently Asked Questions

*Please note: This FAQ is based on information from prior shutdowns and currently available information from 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 organizations, and use civil servants as pawns by firing them en masse..

Will federal employees get back pay?

• Yes. The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act mandates that both furloughed and essential employees are compensated for the period of lapsed funding when the shutdown ends.
• Government employees will not be paid during the shutdown.
• There is no comparable law guaranteeing contractor back pay and most have not been paid in the past.

Will I receive my Social Security check?

• Yes. Social Security is considered "mandatory spending," and checks will continue to go out.
• However, benefit verification, earnings record corrections, and Medicare card issuances will not be available.

Will food programs like SNAP and WIC continue?

• Food programs like SNAP and WIC may have limited leftover funds to continue some services, but they will quickly run out of resources and be unable to provide food for families in need.
• Please Note: WIC is expected to run out funds sooner than SNAP. 
• If federal food programs close down, there are some local organizations that may be able to assist.

Will the Postal Office remain open?

• Yes, the U.S. Postal Service is self-funded.

Will Medicare and Medicaid shut down?

• Like Social Security, Medicare is considered mandatory funding and benefits should not face interruptions. 
• However, you might find some services related to telehealth delayed or canceled. 
• Access to care under Medicaid should not face interruptions.
• You may experience long wait times getting assistance from both Medicare and Medicaid.

Do members of the military remain on duty?

• Yes. However, our brave servicemembers will not be paid.
• On-base non-acute health care may cease, but off-base care provided through Tricare is not affected. 
• On-base child care is open on a case-by-case basis.

Will the VA still be open?

• VA Hospitals will remain open, with some staff working without pay.
• Critical health care programs, such as suicide prevention, homelessness programs, the Veterans Crisis Line and caregiver support, will all continue.
• Most veterans benefits should continue, although processing new claims or adjusting current benefits may be severely affected. 
• While VA cemetery and benefits operations will continue, agencies upon whom they depend will not. For example, the VA cannot verify someone's military service while the National Archives are closed, meaning veterans not currently in the VA system may see a delay in care.

Will military and federal retiree benefits be suspended?

• Military and federal retirees will continue to receive their retirement benefits.
• Processing new applications or other requested changes will be delayed.

Can I still get a federal housing loan?

• Yes, but the Federal Housing Administration will have limited staff during a lapse in appropriations and the processing or closing of FHA loans may be delayed. 
• Veterans Affairs will continue to guarantee home loans. 
• The Department of Agriculture (USDA) will stop new loan and loan guarantee activity. 

Can I travel outside of the country?

• Yes, TSA officers, customs, and air traffic controllers will work without pay during a shutdown. However, you should expect significant travel delays and longer wait times at airports across the country, like there were during previous shutdowns. 
• Additionally, passport operations and embassy services should continue.

Will I receive my tax refund?

• Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the IRS will not experience a lapse in appropriations on October 1, 2025 and normal IRS operations will continue for five days. 
• IRS has not released further plans if the shutdown continues past five days. In past shutdowns, IRS customer service was limited and tax refunds were delayed.

Will Student Loans be disbursed or payments deferred?

• Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans will continue to be paid out, but only while remaining funds last.
• Student loan borrowers are required to continue making payments on their outstanding student loan debt.
• Note that federal employees supporting these programs are significantly reduced during a shutdown.
• If a shutdown continues for an extended period of time, local school districts, colleges, and universities may begin to experience budget shortages due to lapsed federal funding.

How does a shutdown impact small businesses?

• The Small Business Administration (SBA) will not accept, review, or approve new small business loans or provide program support under the agency’s 7(a), 504, and microloan programs during a shutdown. 
• It will continue to disburse disaster direct loans and provide support for certain pandemic-era programs. 
• Resource partners will continue to provide training and counseling to small businesses. 

What about National Parks or Capitol tours?

• Tours and visitor centers at all federal buildings will close, including at the U.S. Capitol, White House, FBI, and Library of Congress.
• National Parks will close on a location-by-location basis. Open air parks will likely remain accessible but museums, visitor centers, and access roads may close.
• Educational programs and regular maintenance, like cleaning restrooms, trash collection, trail maintenance, and road repairs will also shut down at many federal sites.

What would happen if a natural disaster occurs during the shutdown?

• FEMA staff would still respond to emergencies to provide critical disaster assistance for immediate needs. In prior shutdowns, long term projects were delayed due to lack of funding in the Disaster Relief Fund.