Government Shutdown Resources
Funding for the federal government expired on December 20th, 2024.
I understand that you may be impacted by this shutdown or have questions if you will be impacted so have pulled together this FAQ page in order to assist.
Please know that I remain committed to serving you and I am actively working to keep critical services up and running for families in our community.
This Republican-made federal government shutdown has serious impacts across the nation, hurting working families, damaging our economy, and jeopardizing our national security.
Will I continue to receive my Social Security and SSI checks?
Current recipients will continue to receive their Social Security and SSI checks.
However, a shutdown suspends the issuance of Social Security cards. On a typical day, approximately 60,000 Americans apply for Social Security cards, which they may need to be able to start a job, take out a loan, open a bank account, or conduct other financial transactions.
Will Medicare and Medicaid benefits be affected?
Current Medicare, Medicaid, and disability insurance beneficiaries will continue to receive their benefits for at least three months. If the government shutdown lasts longer than three months, beneficiaries may see impacts to receiving their earned benefits.
Will my mail still arrive?
Yes. The U.S. Postal Service is not affected by a federal government shutdown.
Will air travel be affected?
Air traffic controllers, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents will remain on the job without pay.
Should the shutdown continue for a longer period of time, travelers could experience longer wait times at airports and flight delays due to staffing shortages.
What is the impact on veterans’ services?
All VA medical facilities and clinics will remain fully operational. However, VA call centers and hotlines will be closed. Veterans Benefits Administration public contact services are also not available.
For background, during the 2013 16-day shutdown, many veterans lost access to vocational rehabilitation and education counseling services.
What is the impact on U.S. military personnel?
All active-duty troops are required to still report for duty but pay checks will be delayed until the shutdown ends.
Not all civilian defense workers will be required to work during a shutdown. Some might be furloughed, while others may be considered ‘essential’. Check with your supervisor for specifics.
Military personnel access to on-base health care may be impacted. Critical medical and dental care are exempted from shutdown order, but other elective procedures might be cancelled or postponed. Depends on medical situation. Please check with your provider.
Private sector health care under Tricare will not be affected by a shutdown, and specialty medical care for wounded warriors would continue. However, office hours could be cut due to shutdown-related staffing issued.
On-base childcare will be open on a case-by-case basis. Check with your facility for more information.
What is the impact on federal law enforcement?
Federal law enforcement will also be required to work without pay for the duration of a shutdown.
What is the impact on food safety activities?
The Food and Drug Administration, which oversees food safety, will be shut down.
For background, the 2013 16-day shutdown sharply curtailed critical FDA food safety inspections of domestic and international food facilities.
What is the impact on federal housing loans?
The Federal Housing Administration stops approving applications for housing loans.
For background, during the 2013 16-day shutdown, the FHA delayed processing over 500 applications for loans to develop, rehabilitate, or refinance around 80,000 units of multifamily rental housing.
How will this affect small businesses?
A federal government shutdown halts federal loans to small businesses.
During a shutdown, the Small Business Administration stops approving applications for small businesses to obtain loans and loan guarantees, typically $1 billion per month.
For background, during the 2013 16-day shutdown, the SBA was unable to process about 700 applications for small business loans.
Will I still be able to visit the national parks and monuments?
It remains to be seen whether national parks and monuments will remain open in the event of a shutdown.
For background, during the 2018 shutdown, many parks and open-air monuments remained accessible, though no visitor services were provided, and indoor facilities were closed.
Please follow updates on this page for more information: https://www.doi.gov/shutdown/news-operations-absence-appropriations
How will the shutdown affect FEMA natural disaster clean-up efforts?
All FEMA-funded natural disaster recovery work stops during a federal government shutdown. FEMA staff would still respond to emergencies, but without funding, FEMA would not be able to continue long-term projects.
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. ADD LINKs to Pierce County and Thurston County websites
Which federal employees keep working during a government shutdown?
When there is a government shutdown, federal agencies are required to classify their employees as either “essential” or “non-essential.” The employees classified as “essential” continue to work during the shutdown. Employees classified as “non-essential” are put on unpaid furlough.
For background, tn the 2013 16-day shutdown, about 800,000 of the 2.1 million civilian federal employees in the executive branch were classified as “non-essential” and furloughed.
Do furloughed federal employees get back pay?
Yes. The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 guarantees back pay to furloughed and excepted federal workers impacted by any lapse in federal appropriations, all federal employees will receive back pay.