Shutdown Q&A and Resource Guide

Your Guide to Staying Informed During the 2025 Government Shutdown  

I’m hosting a virtual Town Hall on Wednesday, October 8th, at 5:30 pm MT, to talk about what is happening and answer any questions you have. Watch the livestream on my YouTube,Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X.

Unfortunately, the government has entered a shutdown. If legislation is not passed to continue to fund the government, government services will be impacted, resulting in a range of disruptions in essential services. I want to ensure you have the information you need regarding the 2025 government shutdown and how it might affect your everyday life. 

Para las preguntas frecuentes en español, haga clic aquí.

How did we get here? How do we move forward? 

Each year, Congress must pass legislation to fund government operations for the coming fiscal year. As of now the House and Senate have not finished the Appropriations process to fund our government for FY2026 which began on October 1st, 2025. 

I know that my constituents in NM-01 send me to Washington to do their work — the work of the people. They expect government to make life better—not harder—for New Mexicans, whether they be teachers, farmers, students, nurses, small business owners, or trades workers. 

House and Senate leadership is failing. It hasn’t done its job, and it didn’t get its work done.  A reckless and short-sighted shutdown brought on by the extreme right is bad for America.  

What does this mean for you? 

Please review the information provided below for a snapshot of how a federal government shutdown impacts communities nationwide. Disclaimer: Unfortunately, due to the dynamic nature of a government shutdown, it is difficult to provide live information about the current operations of various agencies. Please contact our office for assistance, or reach out to the federal agency you need assistance from to get the most up-to-date information on federal operations. 

Office of US Representative Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) 

•    My offices will remain open to assist you.   
•    Constituents of New Mexico’s 1^st Congressional District who need assistance can submit their request here, or call our District Office, 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Mon-Fri, at (505) 346-6781. Please note, we have a greatly reduced ability to assist constituents as many Federal Agencies are closed due to the shutdown. However, we will do everything we are able to assist you during this uncertain time. 
•    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 our Washington D.C. office, 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Mon-Fri, at (202) 225-6316. 

US 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 

•   The following programs will continue operations, but the situation may change depending on the length of the shutdown. 
•   The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Child Nutrition (CN) Programs will continue operations at least until October 31, 2025. 

Social Security 

•    Social Security checks will be mailed out 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, new applications for benefits and folks needing to update their information may experience delays. For inquiries about your application, please contact our district office at (505) 346-6781. 

Veterans 

•    VA services will still be available. The VA Medical Centers will remain open. 
•    Please note that VA call centers and hotlines will be temporarily closed, and Veterans Benefits Administration public contact services will not be available. 
•    There are reports of minor delays in receiving discharge documentation necessary to process loan applications. 

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.  
•    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. 
•    Grants.gov is operational; however, there may be limited staff to provide assistance depending on the agency. 
•    The Grants.gov is Contact Center phone number is 1-(800)-518-GRANTS, and email Support@Grants.gov. 
•    Small Business Administration Loans’ processing and adjudication will be impacted. 

US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) 

•    USCIS is fee-funded, so it remains open and continues to process applications. You should expect to attend interviews and appointments as scheduled. 

Military Personnel 

•    Active-duty military personnel will continue their duties as usual. 
•    Civilian employees and training operations may experience disruptions. 

Federal Employees 

•    Agencies will determine "essential personnel" on a case-by-case basis. Those classified as such will still be required to work. 
•    In 2013, legislation was passed to ensure all federal workers receive their full pay during a shutdown, once the government is re-opened. 
•    Some federal agencies may temporarily close, potentially affecting state and local agencies receiving federal funds. 

National Parks 

•    The Department of Interior intends to keep some parks and open-air memorials open, but you should expect some attractions to be closed or operating at a limited capacity. We recommend you verify that status of an attraction by visiting their website or contacting their office. 
•    Indoor facilities like the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park, the Smithsonian Museums, and the National Gallery of Art will continue to operate, business as usual, using prior-year federal appropriation balances. The Institution has sufficient prior-year funding to continue operating through at least Monday, October 6.  

Visiting Washington DC 

•    Many popular attractions may be affected. We encourage you to reach out to the office of the attraction you’re interested in visiting for more information. 
•    Capitol tours will not be offered. If you've booked a tour and wish to reschedule, please contact my office at (202) 225-6316. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Please note: This FAQ is based on information from prior shutdowns and currently available information from agencies. The Trump administration has not been fully transparent with its shutdown plans and Trump himself has made threats to manipulate a shutdown for political gain, change agency operations significantly, and use civil servants as pawns by firing them en masse as he has been all year. 

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. 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. 

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. 

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. 

What is the impact on US military personnel and federal law enforcement?   

All active-duty and Guard and Reservists on active-duty orders are excepted 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. 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 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. 

How will this affect environmental protection and cleanup? 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will stop inspecting most hazardous waste sites, as well as drinking water and chemical facilities. Efforts to address dangerous contaminants like PFAS — which are linked to severe health effects, including cancer — will be delayed, and cleanup activities at Superfund sites will slow or cease. Please use precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones.  

What is the impact on food assistance? 

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) will quickly run out of funding and be unable to provide food for children and parents in need. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for October will be unaffected, but benefits after October 31, 2025 will be impacted if the government does not reopen. 

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. 

Will my mail still arrive? 

Yes, the US Postal Service will continue services throughout a shutdown. 

What does this mean for medical research? 

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be forced to delay new clinical trials. New patients who are waiting for a chance at new treatment through a clinical trial will be turned away. 

Will I still be able to visit National Parks and monuments? 

Across the country, services that require National Park Service staff — including trash removal and operating campgrounds and concessions — may be stopped. Closures will be determined on a location-by-location basis; open-air parks and monuments in Washington, DC will likely remain accessible. Smithsonian museums may also be impacted by a lengthy shutdown. 

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. 

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.  

Will my student loans continue to be disbursed?  

Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans can continue to be obligated and make disbursement during a shutdown, but only as long as carryover and mandatory appropriations last. 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 of time, school districts, colleges, and universities may begin to experience funding shortages due to lapsed federal funding. There are also additional considerations with the Administration cutting the Department of Education workforce. While we don’t yet know exactly how this will impact specific programs that the Department of Education operates, we can expect delays. 

Resources for Federal Workers 

Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office at (202) 225-6316 or (505) 346-6781 with any questions or concerns.