LAST UPDATED: October 23, 2025
The federal government entered a government shutdown beginning on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. To help you navigate, our team created this page as a resource guide. This page is a living document that will be updated frequently, so please check back for additional information.
Please note: The FAQ below is based on information from prior shutdowns. The Trump administration has not yet made up-to-date agency shutdown or “lapse” plans public for all agencies, and President Trump himself has made threats to manipulate a shutdown for political gain. In addition, even before the shut down, many federal agencies were experiencing delays and restricted services as a result of this administration's efforts to close or restructure various agencies, and the firing and forced retirements of thousands of federal workers. As more information becomes available, this page will be updated.
How to Get Help From Our Office
Our office will remain open during regular hours, working hard to help constituents navigate the shutdown. Due to the furlough of federal workers across various agencies, casework inquiries may be delayed during a shutdown.
Get help from our caseworkers: Constituent Services Request Form
Call our office: (610) 626-2020.
Not in PA-05?: Find Your Representative on House.gov
Impacts on Services
Will I continue to receive my Social Security and SSI checks?
Recipients will continue to receive their Social Security and SSI checks. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will continue providing limited services such as issuing Social Security cards and holding appointments for benefit applications. However, SSA will stop some activities like benefit verifications and processing overpayments, and the public will likely experience increased wait times for customer service.
Will Medicare and Medicaid benefits be affected?
Medicare, Medicaid and disability insurance will be largely unaffected by a shutdown lasting less than three months. Current beneficiaries will continue to receive their benefits.
I rely on food programs like SNAP and WIC. Will I keep getting my payments?
WIC should remain stabilized through October 31, but without additional emergency funds, the program will run out of remaining funding quickly and may be unable to provide food for children and parents in need as the shutdown continues. On October 10, USDA notified states that it will be unable to fully fund November SNAP benefits because of the federal shutdown. Without action to reopen the federal government, November SNAP payments will not be made to Pennsylvanians because the Commonwealth cannot backfill the costs.
What is the impact on veterans' services?
All Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities and clinics will remain fully operational. The VA will continue to process veterans’ benefits.
Which federal employees keep working during a government shutdown?
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. Under the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, all federal employees are retroactively paid for the duration of the shutdown upon its conclusion. Donald Trump has threatened to needlessly fire thousands of federal workers during a shutdown, continuing his administration’s efforts to gut the federal workforce with DOGE and other initiatives.
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.
What is the impact on U.S. military personnel and federal law enforcement?
In previous shutdowns, all active-duty and Guard and Reservists on active-duty orders were excepted and therefore are required to work. On-base non-acute health care ceased, but off-base care provided through Tricare was not affected. On-base child care was open on a case-by-case basis. Federal law enforcement was also required to work. Both military personnel and federal law enforcement will not be paid until after the shutdown is over.
Will my mail still arrive?
Yes. The U.S. Postal Service is not affected by a shutdown.
Will commercial air travel be affected?
In prior shutdowns, air traffic controllers, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents remained on the job. However, like all federal employees, they will not be paid until the shutdown is over.
Will immigration applications still be processed?
USCIS is fee-funded, so it remains open and continues to process applications. Some programs that receive appropriated funds, such as E-Verify, may be delayed or suspended. You should expect to attend interviews and appointments as scheduled.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will continue law enforcement activity, including arrests.
How does this affect passports and help for Americans overseas?
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.
Online applications for TSA PreCheck are being accepted, but the Department of Homeland Security suspends Global Entry applications.
What about international travel?
All services at international embassies and consulates will continue during a lapse of appropriations. If you are abroad and need help, you can contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
What is the impact on small businesses?
In prior shutdowns, the Small Business Administration (SBA) stopped processing new business loans, such as through the 7(a) and 504 programs. However, SBA’s Disaster Loan Program continued regular operations.
What is the impact on federal housing loans?
In prior shutdowns, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) stopped insuring some new mortgages and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) stopped processing some new loans. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) also stopped new loan and loan guarantee activity. The VA will continue to guarantee home loans.
What is the impact on disaster relief efforts?
FEMA staff will still respond to emergencies. In prior shutdowns, long-term projects were delayed due to a lack of funding in the Disaster Relief Fund.
What is the impact on the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)?
LIHEAP is a federally funded program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) to help qualifying residents pay their home heating bills during the winter months. LIHEAP benefits are distributed directly to a household’s utility company or home heating fuel provider. Due to the federal government shutdown, Pennsylvania must delay the opening of the 2025-26 LIHEAP season by one month, until December 3, 2025, because PA DHS has not yet received its federal allocation of 2025-2026 LIHEAP funds.
What is the impact on food safety activities?
In prior shutdowns, some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food safety activities — such as routine inspections of facilities — were delayed.
Will I still be able to visit the national parks and monuments?
Open-air sites will remain open to the public. Buildings that require staffing, such as visitor centers, will be closed.
During the 2018 shutdown, many parks and open-air monuments remained accessible, though no visitor services were provided, and indoor facilities were closed.
I'm traveling to Washington, D.C. - will my tours still take place?
Unfortunately, no. The tour guides and visitor centers of federal government buildings are considered non-essential and will be closed during a shutdown. This means that all tours of the U.S. Capitol, White House, and FBI Building will be canceled during a shutdown.
What is the impact on state and local services?
The federal government shutdown does 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.
Will the IRS be available for tax filings and tax refunds?
The IRS has begun furloughing nearly half of its staff. You may experience delays in processing refunds, longer hold times on phone lines, and other impacts to customer service.
If you are filing your 2024 taxes with a valid extension, you are still required to file by October 15th. Refunds will not be processed except in cases where e-filed, error free refunds can be direct-deposited automatically.
Unfortunately, you will not be able to call the IRS to seek assistance with your taxes during the shutdown. Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) across the country will also be closed. If the shutdown continues into 2026, the IRS will reopen call centers when the filing season begins on January 1.
Are there any additional resources for federal workers?
The Shutdown Assistance Map (SAM) was created to help federal employees affected by the government shutdown find the support they need; both locally and at the national level. You can search the map to see offers of assistance and resources available to you here.
