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.

National Security:

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.

Post Office/Mail (USPS):

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.

Education Department (ED): 

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.

Medicare and Medicaid Access:

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 Parks:

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.