Federal Government Shutdown Resources

As the representative of tens of thousands of federal workers and contractors, I’m working to keep critical services up and running for families in our community, but House Republicans shut down the government.

A reckless and unnecessary shutdown seriously impacts everyone across the nation, hurting working families, endangering our national security, and jeopardizing our economy.

I refuse to accept a paycheck during the shutdown and I am introducing and cosponsoring legislation to support federal workers and contractors during this period.

I introduced the Shutdown Guidance for Financial Institutions Act, which would direct financial regulators to issue guidance to financial institutions regarding government shutdowns. This guidance would instruct banks and credit unions on how to work with government employees and contractors during a shutdown, including by protecting workers’ credit scores and offering flexible loan and mortgage options. I have also introduced the Emergency Relief for Federal Contractors Act, which would allow federal contractors to make penalty-free withdrawals from their retirement accounts in the event of a shutdown.

I am also cosponsoring a number of related bills to further support federal workers and contractors, including:

The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act, which would require federal contractors to receive backpay in the event of a shutdown.
The Emergency Relief for Federal Workers Act, which would allow federal employees to make penalty-free withdrawals from their retirement accounts during a shutdown.
H.R. 5599, the Securing Assurance for Federal Employees (SAFE) Act, which would prohibit reductions in force (RIFs) during a shutdown.
H.R. 5572, the Help Federal Employees During Shutdowns (FEDS) Act, which would allow federal employees to collect unemployment insurance during a shutdown.
H.R. 1973, the No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act, which would withhold pay from members of Congress while the government is shut down.

I am also hosting an Emergency Government Shutdown Town Hall Saturday, October 4th to hear from my constituents.

Submit Your Story

One of the most impactful things you can do right now is to let me know what is happening and report on the situation on the ground. If you are a federal employee from Virginia, you are being affected by this shutdown, and would like to submit your story, please fill out the form below. You are not required to submit your name and contact information; however, if you choose to submit the form anonymously, this will limit our ability to follow up with you. Please know that if you choose to include your name and contact information, your information will be protected and will not be shared beyond Congressman Subramanyam’s office without your consent.

Click Here to Complete Survey

To inform constituents of what a government shutdown means for you and your family, my office has prepared answers to frequently asked questions.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why does the government shut down?
The government shuts down when Congress is unable to pass appropriations bills that fund the operations of federal agencies and programs. These 12 appropriations bills are designed to fund the government until the conclusion of each fiscal year, which ends on September 30. In the absence of routine appropriations bills, Congress may pass temporary measures, known as a continuing resolution (CR). Currently, the federal government is operating under a CR that expires on September 30, 2025. In the absence of approved appropriations bills or a CR, the government faces a shutdown due to a lack of authorized funding.

Will I continue to receive my Social Security?
A shutdown will not impact Social Security benefit payments, but be aware that benefit verifications have ceased, meaning new recipients may see delays in processing their claims.

Will Medicare or Medicaid be interrupted?
Medicare and Medicaid will continue for the foreseeable future, but you may experience difficulty reaching these agencies, as some employees are furloughed. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will be unable to issue Medicare replacement cards, and could slow new enrollment processing.

Is USPS still delivering mail?
All services under the Postal Service will continue unimpacted throughout a government shutdown.

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.

I am a federal employee. Will I still be paid?
Under a government shutdown, all non-essential federal employees are placed on unpaid leave, also known as a furlough. However, essential employees who perform emergency work involving the safety of human life, the protection of property, or other exempted work must continue to report to their job. Each federal agency will determine which employees will be furloughed and which must continue to report to work. Furloughs are expected to impact the services that agencies provide to the public. Neither essential nor furloughed employees are authorized to receive compensation during a lapse in government funding. The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, 31 U.S.C. § 1341 (GEFTA) statutorily requires retro-active pay for furloughed and essential employees following the end of a lapse in government funding. The exact timeframe for retro-active payment will depend on the length of the lapse in government funding and start date of the enacted continuing resolution or appropriations bill. For more details, please visit the Office of Personnel Management’s website at the link here.

Do military personnel continue working?
Yes, the Department of Defense will continue defending our nation and all military personnel will continue in their duties as usual, but servicemembers will not receive pay during a government shutdown.

Can veterans still get treatment at the VA or access other services?
All functions within the Veterans Health Administration will continue, and veterans will continue to receive compensation and pension claims.

Should I cancel my upcoming travel plans?
You can and should continue to enjoy your travel plans! TSA officers and air traffic controllers are considered essential and are reporting to work throughout the shutdown. However, both TSA and Air Traffic Control are currently working without pay, so please be patient with any delays.

I’m coming to DC, will my tours still take place?
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, and FBI Building have been canceled during the shutdown. The Supreme Court and Bureau of Engraving and Printing will be open for tours; however, these tours book up far in advance and may not be available for last-minute scheduling. If you have a tour scheduled through our office and want to check the status, please call us at 202-225-1492.

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?
The State Department will continue to process passport applications and visa requests as long as funding and the collection of fees allow. However, delayed processing times are expected.

I have an issue with a federal agency. Can I still open a case?
Due to the lapse in funding, many agencies have furloughed workers. Please contact our office at 703-256-3071 or visit our Constituent Services page to fill out a Privacy Release Form and we can assist you with this matter.

I already have a case open 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 and opening new cases.

I rely on food programs like SNAP and WIC. Will I keep getting my payments?
Funding for WIC will run out of remaining funding quickly and may be unable to provide food for children and parents in need. SNAP recipients should expect to receive their monthly allotment and retailers will continue to accept SNAP benefits. SNAP applications and the ability for employees at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to send out new benefits could be affected by a shutdown. If the shutdown lasts more than 30 days, there could be bigger impacts on the program.

Additional Resources:

Find Your Union: https://www.opm.gov/labor-management-relations/labor-management-relations/

OPM Shutdown Guidance: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/reference-materials/guidance-for-shutdown-furloughs-sep-28-2025/?

OPM Shutdown Page: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/furlough-guidance/#url=Shutdown-Furlough

Have more questions? Please contact my office at (202) 225-5136 or email me here.