Dear Friend,
The federal government shut down as of midnight on September 30, 2025, because of a lack of funding. I am working to find a bipartisan solution to end this situation so the federal resources our communities rely on are available.
Below are some answers to frequently asked questions about the shutdown.
If you need assistance, you can call my D.C. office at 202-225-6311 or my Bellevue office at 425-485-0085 with questions or to share your concerns. You can also share how the shutdown is impacting you here.
Take care,
Suzan
What causes a government shutdown?
The government shuts down when Congress is unable to pass appropriations bills that finance the operations of federal agencies and programs. Appropriations bills fund the government until the end of each fiscal year on September 30. If a new appropriations bill isn't enacted by this deadline, Congress needs to pass a temporary funding measure, known as a continuing resolution (CR). In the absence of an approved appropriations bill or a temporary measure, the government faces a shutdown due to a lapse in funding.
On March 14, 2025, Congress approved a funding measure that funded the government through the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2025. Because a funding bill or temporary measure was not passed before the start of the new fiscal year, the federal government shut down.
Will I continue to receive my Social Security benefits?
Yes. A shutdown does not impact Social Security payments for existing beneficiaries. However, new benefit verification and card issuance services have stopped, meaning new recipients may see delays in processing their claims. You may also experience difficulty reaching the Social Security Administration as some employees may be furloughed.
Will Medicare or Medicaid be interrupted?
No. Medicare and Medicaid (known as Apple Health in Washington state) will continue, but you may experience difficulty reaching these agencies as some employees may be furloughed.
I rely on food programs like SNAP and WIC. Will I keep getting my payments?
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments will continue during October but if the shutdown lasts beyond that, benefits may be impacted. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) likely only has enough funding to operate until mid-October. In Washington, over 900,000 people are enrolled in SNAP, and 200,000 are enrolled in WIC.
Is the Postal Service still delivering mail?
Yes. All services under the United States Postal Service (USPS) will continue unimpacted throughout the government shutdown. The USPS is largely a self-sufficient agency that does not receive funding from Congress.
My child is enrolled in Head Start. Will the program continue to run?
Yes. The vast majority of Head Start programs will remain operational during the shutdown, but you should contact your child’s Head Start program for further guidance.
Will my student loans continue to be disbursed?
Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans can continue to be disbursed during a shutdown, but only as long as carryover funding lasts. However, the department staff needed to carry out and support these functions are significantly reduced because many may be furloughed.
If the shutdown continues for an extended period, school districts, colleges, and universities may begin to experience funding shortages due to lapsed federal funding. People may lose access to federally funded school meals and federal employees who assist with student loan services, among other programs.
What happens to federal employees during a shutdown?
Federal employees are either furloughed—prohibited from work and unpaid—or required to work without pay if their roles are deemed essential to public safety. 77,000 federal workers live in Washington state. While these employees are guaranteed back pay once the government reopens, this does not prevent the immediate financial difficulties they face. Many are forced to delay mortgage or credit card payments, risking late fees or loan defaults. Government contractors, unlike direct federal employees, typically do not receive back pay after shutdowns.
The administration has also threatened to undergo a mass firing of federal workers during a shutdown.
Do military personnel continue working?
Yes. Military personnel will continue protecting and defending our nation. However, our servicemembers will not receive pay during the shutdown, but they will receive backpay once the government reopens.
Can veterans still get treatment at the VA or access other services?
Yes. All functions within the Veterans Health Administration would continue. Various benefit functions under the Veteran Benefits Administration, including compensation and pension claims, insurance processing, and education benefit claims, will continue.
Will airports remain open?
Yes. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers and air traffic controllers will continue to work without pay throughout the shutdown. However, during past government shutdowns, there was an increased number of absences among TSA officers and air traffic controllers due to their inability to afford unpaid work. This resulted in longer wait times at checkpoints in some airports and slower air traffic.
What about international travel?
All services at international embassies and consulates will continue during a lapse in government funding. If you are abroad and need help, you can still contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, which can be found here.
Will my passport renewal still be processed?
Yes. Passport applications continue to be processed. The Bureau of Consular Affairs/Passport Services is designated as an essential service provider and is funded through passport fees. All passport services, including agencies and the National Passport Information Center, will remain open during a lapse of government funding.
Will immigration applications still be processed?
Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement will operate as usual, but there may be some delays.
Are National Parks closed?
Trails, roads, and open-air areas at National Park Service locations, including North Cascades, Mount Rainer, and Olympic, are expected to remain open during the government shutdown. Parks with accessible areas that collect fees will utilize remaining funds to provide basic visitor services, including restrooms and sanitation, trash collection, road maintenance, campground operations, law enforcement, emergency operations, and staffing entrance gates as necessary to provide critical safety information. Parks that do not collect fees may use other funding sources to provide essential services.
I have an issue with a government agency. Can I still call them for help? Can you help me instead?
Due to the lapse in funding, many agencies have furloughed workers so their help desks may have little or no staffing. You are encouraged to contact any agency to learn if they are still able to assist you at this time. You can also contact my office for assistance. We can contact an agency on your behalf and provide you with updates if they are open or when they reopen after the shutdown ends.
I already have a case open with your office. Should I do anything during the shutdown?
My office is continuing to submit inquiries to federal agencies, including requesting updates on constituents' behalf, submitting paperwork, and opening new cases. We will provide you with an update as soon as it is available.
I'm coming to DC. Will my tours still take place?
Unfortunately, the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center is closed during a government shutdown and all tours of the U.S. Capitol and FBI Building have been canceled for the duration of the shutdown. White House tours are currently closed to the public due to construction. The Smithsonian museums and National Zoo will use prior-year funds to remain open to the public during the federal government shutdown at least through Monday, October 6, 2025.
