The federal government is in a shutdown. Here's a guide on what you need to know.
Due to a lapse in government funding, the federal government entered a shutdown at midnight on September 30, 2025. This means that, starting on October 1, the federal government’s operations will be drastically reduced.
Rest assured, I am hard at work trying to break the deadlock in Congress and ensure that we fulfill our most fundamental responsibility. I understand that this is a stressful time and that you may have concerns about how the shutdown will affect the government services you depend on. To keep you informed, this page will be updated as agencies provide more information.
What does this mean for you?
Office of Rep. Valerie Foushee
- Throughout a government shutdown, my staff and I will remain available, and my offices are open to assist you.
- Constituents of North Carolina's Fourth Congressional District who need assistance with a federal agency can submit their request here or you can call my office directly at 919-967-7924. Please note, we will have a greatly reduced ability to assist constituents as many federal agencies will be closed due to the shutdown.
- During a government shutdown, my office will be unable to process flag requests and U.S. Capitol tours will be suspended. If you've booked a U.S. Capitol tour through our office and wish to reschedule, please contact us at 202-225-1784.
- If you have a comment or would like to share how this shutdown is impacting you, please send us a message or reach out to my D.C. office, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday-Friday, at 202-225-1784.
U.S. Postal Service
- Post offices will remain open and mail delivery will continue.
- USPS will not be affected because it is an independent agency whose operations are not funded by tax dollars.
Food Assistance Programs
- SNAP payments will continue during the month of October but if the shutdown lasts into November or beyond, benefits may be impacted. Most participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) will see an immediate reduction in benefits.
Social Security
- Social Security checks will be issued as usual. This process is largely automated and remains staffed in a limited capacity during a shutdown. Retirement and Disability payments come through the Social Security Trust Funds and not the General Revenue Fund.
- However, you may also experience difficulty reaching the Social Security Administration as some employees may be furloughed. New applications and individuals needing to update their information may experience delays. For inquiries about your application, please contact my district office at 919-967-7924.
Veterans
- VA services will still be available, the VA Medical Centers will remain open.
- Please note that some VA call centers and hotlines may be temporarily closed, and Veterans Benefits Administration public contact services will not be available. The Veterans Crisis Line will remain operational 24/7, and veterans can still call 988 for assistance during the shutdown.
- Based on previous government shutdowns, access to some Veterans’ Affairs (VA) resources will be restricted, including outreach, career counseling, transition assistance, and cemetery grounds maintenance. Regional VA offices that serve the public will close.
Travel
- Air travel should generally not be affected, but you may experience some longer times at TSA, or delays/cancellations due to staffing issues. TSA, Air Traffic Controllers, and Customs and Border Protection agents will continue their operations.
- However, all aviation security workers—air traffic controllers, animal and plant inspectors, aviation safety experts, Customs and Border Patrol officials, and Transportation Security Agency officers—are working without pay.
- The U.S. Passport Agency is expected to remain open during the shutdown and continue to issue passports. However, some offices and services may be limited if those offices are in buildings run by another agency that is shut down. Passport application processing and issuance may experience significant delays.
- Online applications for TSA PreCheck are being accepted, but the Department of Homeland Security suspends Global Entry applications during the shutdown.
FEMA
- FEMA staff will continue to respond to emergencies.
Federal Grants and Business Opportunities
- You are encouraged to always submit your grant application ahead of the deadline.
- The Grants.gov website is operational; however, there may be limited staff to provide assistance depending on the agency.
- The Grants.gov Contact Center phone number is 1-800-518-GRANTS, and email Support@Grants.gov.
- Small Business Administration Loans' processing and adjudication will be impacted.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- USCIS is fee-funded, so it remains open and continues to process applications. You should attend interviews and appointments as scheduled.
- Immigration court cases on the detained docket will proceed during a lapse in congressional appropriations while non-detained docket cases will be reset for a later date when funding resumes.
- However, several USCIS programs will either expire or suspend operations or be otherwise affected until they receive appropriated funds or are reauthorized by Congress. These include: E-Verify, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center Program, Conrad 30 J-1 doctors, and non-minister religious workers, which are suspended or otherwise impacted.
Military Personnel
- The Department of Defense will continue defending our nation and all active-duty military personnel will continue their duties as usual. However, our service members will not receive pay during the shutdown.
- Civilian employees and training operations may experience disruptions.
Federal Employees
- Federal employees from shut-down agencies are either furloughed—prohibited from work and unpaid—or required to work without pay if their roles are deemed essential to public safety.
- Agencies will determine "essential personnel" on a case-by-case basis. Those classified as such will still be required to work.
- Some federal agencies may temporarily close, potentially affecting state and local agencies receiving federal funds.
National Parks
- National Parks Services are closed during the government shutdown.
- The public is strongly encouraged not to visit National Parks during the lapse in appropriations out of consideration for our natural resources and for visitor safety.
- This means that the vast majority of national parks will be closed completely to public access. Visitor centers will be closed, gates will be locked, entrance fees won't be collected, educational programs will be canceled, and campsites won't be staffed. Restrooms will be closed and services like trash collection and road maintenance will be suspended. Parks will also not provide regular road or trail condition updates. There are also limited emergency/rescue services and safety updates will not be published.
Visiting Washington D.C.
- Unfortunately, tour guides and visitor centers of DC's government buildings are considered non-essential and have been closed.
- This means that all tours of the U.S. Capitol, White House, FBI Building, Library of Congress, National Archives, Supreme Court, State Department, Historic Treasury Building, and Bureau of Engraving and Printing have been canceled during the shutdown. We encourage you to reach out to the office of the attraction you're interested in visiting for more information.
- If you've booked a U.S. Capitol tour through our office and wish to reschedule, please contact us at 202-225-1784.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 provide limited services like issuing Social Security cards and holding appointments for benefit applications. However, SSA will stop services like benefit verifications and processing overpayments. You may also experience difficulty reaching the Social Security Administration as some employees may be furloughed. As a result, customer service wait times will dramatically increase.
Will Medicare and Medicaid benefits be affected?
Current Medicare, Medicaid, and disability insurance beneficiaries will continue to receive their benefits assuming a shutdown lasts less than three months. However, you may experience difficulty reaching these agencies as some employees are furloughed.
What happens to veterans' services?
All Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities and clinics will remain operational. The VA will continue to process veterans' benefits. However, veterans will be affected by the shutdown of other services that they count on, including education and job training, support for veteran-owned businesses, and even assistance for homeless veterans.
Will my student loans continue to be disbursed?
Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans can continue to be obligated and make disbursements during a shutdown, but only as long as carryover and mandatory appropriations last. However, department staff needed to carry out and support these functions are significantly reduced. Free Applications for Student Aid (FAFSA), Pell Grant, and Federal Direct Student Loans, and servicing of federal student loans could continue for a “very limited time” under a shutdown. If the shutdown continues for an extended period, school districts, colleges, and universities may begin to experience funding shortages due to lapsed federal funding.
What happens to federal employees during a government shutdown?
Federal employees from shut-down agencies are either furloughed—prohibited from work and unpaid—or required to work without pay if their roles are deemed essential to public safety. While Congress has traditionally approved retroactive payment for these employees once the government reopens, this does not prevent the immediate financial difficulties they face. During the 2018-2019 partial government shutdown, around 2 million people were employed by the federal government; 380,000 of them were furloughed and 420,000 worked without pay. Many delayed 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. In the 2018-2019 shutdown, it's estimated that 4.1 million people worked under government contracts, though the exact number of those furloughed is unclear.
What is the impact on U.S. military personnel and federal law enforcement?
All active-duty and Guard and Reservists on active-duty orders are expected and therefore are required to work without pay. On-base non-acute health care will cease, although off-base care provided through Tricare will not be affected. On-base child care will be open on a case-by-case basis. Federal law enforcement will also be required to work without pay for the duration of a shutdown.
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.
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. If some do not report to work, as has happened in prior shutdowns, there will be significant delays and longer wait times across the country.
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.
Will my passport renewal still be processed?
Passport applications will continue to be processed. The Bureau of Consular Affairs/Passport Services is designated as an essential service provider and is funded through passport fees, so all of Passport Services, including agencies and the National Passport Information Center, will remain open during a lapse of appropriations. In a prolonged shutdown, passport issuance could be slowed. Access to passport agencies located in some government buildings may be limited.
Will my mail still arrive?
Yes, the U.S. Postal Service is not affected by a shutdown.
What does this mean for disaster relief efforts?
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) staff will still respond to emergencies, but all long-term projects will be delayed due to a lack of funding in the Disaster Relief Fund.
What is the impact on food safety activities?
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food safety activities—such as routine inspections of facilities—will be delayed across the country.
What is the impact on housing?
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will stop insuring some new mortgages and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will stop processing some new loans. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) will stop new loan and loan guarantee activity. The VA will continue to guarantee home loans. Funding for federal housing assistance programs, such as Housing Choice Vouchers, may be jeopardized in a prolonged shutdown.
How will this affect small businesses?
The Small Business Administration (SBA) will stop processing new business loans, such as through the 7(a) and 504 programs. However, SBA's Disaster Loan Program will continue regular operations.
What is the impact on state and local services?
The federal government shutdown will 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.
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 to open a case for you. We can contact an agency on your behalf and provide you with updates if they are open or when they re-open at the conclusion of a shutdown.
I already have an open case 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.
Need Assistance?
In these challenging times, your engagement and vigilance are more vital than ever. Together, we can work towards a resolution that prioritizes the well-being of all Americans.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office at 202-225-1784 with any questions or concerns.
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Call my District Office: 919-967-7924
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