Historically, the longest shutdown on record is the Trump shutdown that lasted 35 days. Although we do not know how long this shutdown will last, my Democratic colleagues and I will be working tirelessly to find a solution to this matter. Both of my San Mateo, California and Washington, DC offices will remain open for those seeking help or answers. 

Each government agency has contingency plans for how to operate during a federal shutdown. You can find a list of the most updated plans provided by the Office of Management and Budget  here. Many will have to stop or reduce the essential services they provide with this lapse in funding, as well as put employees on furlough until the agencies are funded at capacity again.  

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the 2018-2019 shutdown cost the U.S. economy $11 billion — largely the result of federal workers cutting spending to cope with the loss of their paychecks. 

Congress must pass and the President must sign appropriations bills to fund the departments and reopen agencies that have shut down. 

The following federal facilities may be affected in the event of a government shutdown: 

• Military bases, arsenals, depots, and federal armories 

• Veterans’ Affairs medical facilities 

• Federal prisons and courthouses 

• National laboratories 

• National Park System facilities, National Forests, and other federally owned or managed lands 

• Ports including seaports, airports, and intermodal terminals that may host federal customs processing facilities or law enforcement 

• IRS facilities 

• Law enforcement agencies like the FBI, ATF, DEA, or CBP 

• General federal office buildings  

• Federal employees who work for agencies or work on programs that are not funded by the annual appropriations process are exempt from a shutdown. These include agencies like the U.S. Postal Service and programs like Social Security and Medicare. 

• Federal employees whose agency or programs are funded by annual appropriations that have not been provided for Fiscal Year 2025 will be designated by their agency as “essential” or “non-essential.” Only essential employees—generally those who do work related to safety, property protection, health, emergency response, and other work as determined by their agencies—will be allowed to report for work once available funding has been exhausted. 

• Those deemed non-essential when agency funding has been exhausted are legally required to stay home and are put on unpaid furlough. 

• Regarding pay, all federal employees should immediately contact their supervisor/employing agency for further guidance. 

Recipients will continue to receive their Social Security and SSI checks. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will provide limited services like issuing Social Security cards and holding appointments for benefit applications. However, SSA will stop services like benefit verifications and processing overpayments. Customer service wait times will dramatically increase. 

Current Medicare, Medicaid, and disability insurance beneficiaries will continue to receive their benefits assuming a shutdown lasts less than three months. 

All Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities and clinics will remain operational. The VA will continue to process veterans’ benefits. However, veterans will be affected by the shutdown of other services that they count on, including education and job training, support for veteran- owned businesses, and even assistance for homeless veterans. 

When the government shuts down, federal agencies are required to classify their employees whose salaries have lapsed as either “excepted” or “not excepted.” The employees classified as “excepted” work without pay during the shutdown. The employees classified as “not excepted” are put on unpaid furlough. 

All active-duty and Guard and Reservists on active-duty orders are excepted and therefore are required to work without pay. On-base non-acute health care will cease, although off-base care provided through Tricare will not be affected. On-base child care will be open on a case-by-case basis. Federal law enforcement will also be required to work without pay for the duration of a shutdown. 

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

Air traffic controllers, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents will remain on the job without pay. If some do not report to work, as has happened in prior shutdowns, there will be significant delays and longer wait times across the country. 

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) staff will still respond to emergencies, but all long-term projects will be delayed due to a lack of funding in the Disaster Relief Fund. 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will stop inspecting most hazardous waste sites, as well as drinking water and chemical facilities. Efforts to address dangerous contaminants like PFAS — which are linked to severe health effects, including cancer — will be delayed, and cleanup activities at Superfund sites will slow or cease. 

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. 

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food safety activities — such as routine inspections of facilities — will be delayed across the country. 

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will stop insuring some new mortgages and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will stop processing some new loans. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) will stop new loan and loan guarantee activity. The VA will continue to guarantee home loans. Funding for federal housing assistance programs, such as Housing Choice Vouchers, may be jeopardized in a prolonged shutdown. 

The Small Business Administration (SBA) will stop processing new business loans, such as through the 7(a) and 504 programs. However, SBA’s Disaster Loan Program will continue regular operations. 

Yes. The U.S. Postal Service is not affected by a shutdown. 

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. 

Across the country, services that require National Park Service staff — including trash removal and operating campgrounds and concessions — may be stopped. 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. 

Consular services, passport services, and visa services are expected to continue in the immediate aftermath of a government shutdown. In a prolonged shutdown, passport and visa issuance could be slowed. Access to passport agencies located in some government buildings may be limited. 

The federal government shutdown will not immediately affect any state or local services. However, with federal funding cut off, some state or local governments may have to change their operations. Check with state and local agencies for specific questions.