Government Shutdown

As of October 1, 2025, the federal government has entered into a shutdown. Republicans in Congress introduced a partisan continuing resolution (CR) that excludes an extension to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits.

Without an extension of these premium tax credits, millions of Americans and healthcare centers, such as hospitals, will experience drastic increases in their rates. I am proud to have voted against this CR, and I strongly encourage my colleagues in the Senate to hold firm against voting for the CR until these tax credits can be reauthorized.

The Trump administration has made it its goal to privatize American healthcare and make it more expensive for Americans to live in our country. Our healthcare should not be considered a partisan issue, and I will continue to hold firm against these lies being created by the Trump administration and Republican leadership to paint this CR as anything but a partisan, lackluster funding attempt.

I am fighting for lower healthcare costs for millions of Americans. Democrats will not sacrifice affordable healthcare for the Republican agenda.

While the CR unfortunately passed through the House, it is already facing an uphill battle in the Senate, having been blocked from moving forward until a compromise can be reached. Extension of the ACA premium tax credits is a serious issue that will impact the lives of millions of Americans, and Senate Republicans need to come to the table with Senate Democrats if they want any hope of this CR passing through the upper chamber.

Let me be clear, Republicans control what happens next, and how this matter is settled, and if the government is funded is ultimately in their hands. A failure to fund the government is solely a failure of the American people by Republicans.

I would like to take a moment to address some of the concerns you may have about how a government shutdown will affect the services provided by federal agencies. Please see below for frequently asked questions regarding these services during a shutdown:

Will my SNAP/WIC benefits be affected?
- Food assistance programs have already received funding for October, so if you receive SNAP/WIC benefits, you will continue to receive those benefits in October. WIC benefits will continue during this shutdown. However, should the government shutdown go past October, SNAP benefits in November and December could be threatened.
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 to provide limited services, including issuing Social Security cards and scheduling appointments for benefit applications. However, SSA will suspend certain activities, such as benefit verifications and processing overpayments, and the public can expect to 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.

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.

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.

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." Employees classified as "excepted" continue to work without pay during the shutdown. Employees classified as "not excepted" are placed on unpaid leave, also known as 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, as he has been trying to do all year. Finally, the longer a shutdown lasts, the higher the likelihood that federal workers will begin to resign in search of jobs that can cover their essential expenses, such as food and rent, which could lead to disruptions in critical services.

What is the impact on U.S. military personnel and federal law enforcement?
- In previous shutdowns, all active-duty personnel, as well as those on active-duty orders in the Guard and Reserves, were exempt and therefore required to work. On-base non-acute health care ceased, but off-base care provided through Tricare was not affected. On-base childcare was available on a case-by-case basis. Federal law enforcement was also required to be in operation. Neither military personnel nor federal law enforcement will 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.

What is the impact on small businesses?
- During prior shutdowns, the Small Business Administration (SBA) halted processing new business loans, including those through the 7(a) and 504 programs. However, SBA’s Disaster Loan Program continued regular operations.

What is the impact on federal housing loans?
- During prior shutdowns, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) suspended insuring new mortgages, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) halted processing 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 food safety activities?
- In prior shutdowns, some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food safety activities, such as routine facility inspections, were delayed.