Dear friends and neighbors,
Beginning October 1, funding for the federal government expired. I know many of you are wondering what this means for you and your family, so I want to give you an update on what’s happening here in Washington.
It’s important to understand that it requires 60 votes in the Senate to advance a continuing resolution, but Democrats in the Senate have refused to join Republicans in voting to keep the government open. As of today, we are operating under what is called “a lapse in appropriations” or a government shutdown.
What happened?
I voted to keep the government open. I joined Republicans in voting for a non-partisan, clean continuing resolution, or CR, to temporarily fund the government for seven weeks—no strings attached, no increases in spending, and no cuts to federal programs. Our CR would have kept the government open and operating in the same way it had been as we continue to negotiate full-year appropriations bills.
Unfortunately, Democrats voted against our solution, even though they voted for the same clean CR 13 times under President Biden. Instead, they proposed an alternative CR that would add $1.5 trillion in new spending, put illegal immigrants back on public health programs, and gut the $50 billion rural health care fund that just became law.
Rest assured, I’m working with my colleagues to reopen the government as quickly as possible. But Republicans can’t do it alone—and I hope Democrats will join us and do what’s right.
Ohioans get up and go to work every day and they get the job done. Congress should do the same and reopen the government.
What does this mean for you and your family?
My offices will remain accessible for constituents who need services during the shutdown. Please visit my website here for more information.
Please know that during this time, government programs involving the safety of human life or the protection of property continue to fully operate.
Below is a list of functions and services offered by the federal government that may be of concern to you and your family during the government shutdown.
These plans and availability of services are subject to change depending on the length of a government shutdown.
Our active duty servicemembers will continue to report for duty and carry out assigned duties. Servicemember pay may be withheld until Congress funds the government.
Social Security Administration (SSA):
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income payments to beneficiaries will continue with no change in payment dates.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP):
Beneficiaries who receive food aid under SNAP are not expected to experience delays in getting their benefits, at least not immediately. Benefits for the month of October 2025 are expected to be paid in full. However, the longer a shutdown lasts, the less ability the USDA has to utilize these means to keep the program operating.
Small Business Administration (SBA):
The SBA will pause most new business loan approvals and program support during a government shutdown—including 7(a) and 504 loans. However, SBA’s disaster loan processing is expected to continue. The SBA has published its “Plan for Operating in the Event of a Lapse in Appropriations – September 2025.”
Passports and Consular Affairs:
Consular operations will remain operational domestically and abroad. This includes passports, visas, and assisting U.S. citizens abroad. All U.S. embassies and consulates abroad will be operational for national security reasons.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA):
Since TSA is considered mission critical to the defense of our nation, most of the employees who screen your bags, perform air cargo security functions, and oversee security checkpoints will continue to work as normal.
Passenger screening remains active.
All U.S. Post Offices will remain open, and all postal operations administered by the USPS will continue. You will continue to receive your mail.
ED plans to keep a higher percentage of staff employed in the Office of Federal Student Aid to ensure those dollars reach students.
The Pell Grant, direct student loans, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications, and federal loan servicing will continue to be disbursed and processed.
If you took out student loans, you still have to make those payments.
Medicaid is expected to have enough funding through first quarter of FY 2026. Medicare payments will continue uninterrupted.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
Activities that will cease during a lapse include:
- Issuance of new grants and interagency agreements
- Certain Superfund site activities where there is no imminent threat to human health and property, unless exempted.
- Issuance of permits, guidance, regulations, and policies unless necessary for exempted or excepted activities.
- Civil enforcement inspections, unless necessary for excepted or exempted activities.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA):
Operations that continue:
- Air traffic control operations and maintenance/operation of navigational aids
- Flight standards inspections, medical certifications
- Commercial space launch oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA):
The VA currently estimates that 97% of VA employees would continue to work during a shutdown.
Below are areas unaffected by the shutdown:
- VA Medical Centers, Outpatient Clinics, and Vet Centers will be open as usual and providing all services.
- VA benefits will continue to be processed and delivered, including compensation, pension, education, and housing benefits.
- Burials will continue at VA national cemeteries. Applications for headstones, markers, and burial benefits processing will continue.
- The Board of Veterans’ Appeals will continue decisions on veterans’ cases.
- Call Centers: VA’s primary call center (1-800-MyVA411) and the Veterans Crisis Line (Dial 988, Press 1) will remain open 24/7.
- Suicide prevention programs, homelessness services, and caregiver support will continue.
These areas will be affected by the shutdown:
- VA will cease providing transition program assistance and career counseling.
- Call Centers: VA’s GI Bill (1-888-GIBILL-1) and National Cemetery Applicant Assistance (1-800-697-6947) hotlines will be closed.
- VA benefits regional offices will be closed.
- Public Affairs and outreach to Veterans will cease, including social media, VetResources emails, and responses to press inquiries.
- No grounds maintenance or placement of permanent headstones at VA cemeteries.
- Applications for pre-need burial at VA cemeteries will not be processed.
- No printing of new Presidential Memorial Certificates.
- No outreach to state, county, tribal, municipal, faith-based, and community-based partners by VA Central Office.
National Park services will remain partially open during the shutdown. Operations of specific parks may be subject to change.
Park roads, lookouts, trails, and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to
visitors. Parks with accessible areas that collect fees under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) will utilize available retained recreation fees balances to provide basic visitor services in a manner that maintains restrooms and sanitation, trash collection, road maintenance, campground operations, law enforcement and emergency operations.
Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to my office or visit my website.
Sincerely,
Jon Husted
U.S. Senator for Ohio