Overhead view of Sacramento

Your Guide During The Potential 2024-2025 Government Shutdown

Unfortunately, the government appears to be heading towards a potential shutdown due to a few extreme Republicans on the fringes, stopping the function of Congress, and preventing us from passing legislation to keep the government operational. 

If legislation is not enacted to continue to fund the government, at 12AM ET on December 21, 2024, certain government services will be impacted, resulting in a range of disruptions in essential services. While as of right now, we might be able to avoid this catastrophe, I want to ensure you have the information you need regarding any potential 2024-2025 government shutdown and how it might affect your everyday life. Here’s what you need to know: 

What does this mean for you?

DISCLAIMER: The following information is accurate if a shutdown were to occur, as of December 19, 2024, and we will do our best to consistently update this page. Unfortunately, because of 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.  

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
•    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 February 2024.

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 (916) 498-5600.

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 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 not be affected and 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 the status of an attraction by visiting their website or contacting their office.

Visiting Washington D.C.

•    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.

•    Indoor facilities like the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park, the Smithsonian Museums, and the National Gallery of Art will be closed.
•    Capitol tours will not be offered. If you've booked a tour and wish to reschedule, please contact my office at (202) 225-7163.

Resources for Furloughed Employees

211 is a clearinghouse of information about available resources for federal employees impacted by the shutdown. If additional resources not listed below are needed, call 2-1-1 for more information. You can also reach out to our office at (916) 498-5600.

Food Banks

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services

  • 3333 3rd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817

  • Phone: (916) 456-2980

  • Hours: Monday - Thursday (8AM - 4PM), Friday (8AM - 3:30PM)

Daughters of Zion Enterpryz Food Pantry

  • 6489 47th Street, Sacramento, CA 95823

  • Phone: (916) 422-3875

  • Hours: Every Wednesday (4:30PM - 6:30PM)

New Hope Community Church - The Gift of Groceries

  • 1821 Meadowview Road, Sacramento, CA 95832

  • Phone: (916) 205-3678

  • Hours: Sign ups on Thursdays (7AM - 3:30PM)

River City Food Bank

  • 1800 28th Street, Sacramento, CA 95816

  • Phone: (916) 446-2627

  • Food Distribution Hours

    • Midtown: Tuesday - Thursday, 10:30AM - 1:30PM

      • 1800 28th Street, Sacramento, CA 95816

      • Phone: (916) 446-2627

    • Arden Arcade: Wednesday and Friday, 10:30AM - 1:30PM

      • 2300 Edison Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95821

Allen Chapel AME Church Food Pantry

  • 1239 Grand Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95838

  • Phone: (916) 922-5077

  • Hours: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of every month

Manna Food Bank at Liberty Ministeries Christian Fellowship

  • 4840 Marysville Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95838

  • Phone: (316) 689-3010

  • Hours: Friday: 9:30 AM - 12PM

    • ID is required

Common Ground Food Pantry

  •  8355 Arroyo Vista Drive, Sacramento, CA - 95823

  • (916) 689-3010

  • Hours: 

    • Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:00AM - 1:00PM

    • Saturday: 9:00AM - 12:00PM

    • Sunday: 10:00AM - 1:00PM

South Sacramento Interfaith Partnership Food Closet

  • 5625 24th Street (intersection of 24th Street & Fruitridge Road), Sacramento, CA 95822

  • Phone: (916) 428-5290

  • Email: info@ssipfoodcloset.org

  • Hours: Monday -Friday: 9:00AM - 11:30AM

Rancho Cordova Food Locker

  • 10600 Coloma Road, Rancho Cordova

  • Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 9:30AM - 12:30PM

Sacramento Loaves & Fishes

  • 1351 North C. St. Sacramento, CA 95811

  • Meal Served:

    • Monday - Friday: 11:30AM - 1:00PM

    • Saturday - Sunday: 11:00AM - 12:30PM

Deferring Payments or Payment Plans

Utilities:

  • SMUD

    •  SMUD has the following options available through their “My Account” tool. Log into your SMUD account to see your eligibility. You can also contact SMUD in person or via phone using the information below.

    • Minimum Payment - make a lower payment that will allow the customer to avoid disconnection.

    • Installment Plan - add the current balance to next month’s bill or split it up over the next 6 months.

    • Payment Extension - extension of due date for a past balance.

      • Contact information

        • Residents

          • Monday - Friday, 7:00AM - 7:00PM

          • Self-service available 24/7

          • English: 1-888-742-7683

          • Spanish: 1-866-651-4420

          • TTY for hard of hearing: (916) 732-6630

          • TTY after hours: (916) 732-5596

        • Businesses

          • Monday - Friday, 8:00AM - 5:00PM

          • Self-service available 24/7

          • 1-877-622-7683

        • In-Person

          • Monday - Friday: 8:00AM - 6:00PM

          • Customer Service Center: 6301 S Street, Sacramento, CA 95817

  • PG&E

    • PG&E has the following options available for customers in need of temporary assistance during the shutdown. To access these options, please log into “Your Account” on the PG&E website or contact them via 1-800-743-5000.

    • Payment Arrangements - You can break up your balance into manageable payments in amounts and dates that fit your financial situation. Sign into Your Account and scroll down to Payment Options. Select Payment Arrangement and then Installments.  Installments allow you to spread your current balance over several months for up to 12 installments.  Choose the option that works best for you.  You must have your name on the account to request a payment arrangement.

    • Extended Due Date lets a customer pay the full amount of your current balance within the next 30 days. Sign into Your Account and scroll down to Payment Options. Select Payment Arrangement and then Extension. Simply input the date on which you want to pay the full amount.  The customer’s name must have be on the account to request an extended due date.

    • Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH): The REACH program helps low-income-qualified customers who experience uncontrollable or unforeseen financial hardships. For complete program details, visit REACH.  You must live at the property to qualify for REACH.

    • Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): This federally funded program provides financial assistance to help offset eligible household energy costs, including heating, cooling and home weatherization expenses. For more information, visit LIHEAP.  You must live at the property to qualify for LIHEAP.

Cell Phone Carriers and Internet Service Providers

  • If extra time is needed to pay their phone bill, the customer can contact their ISP or phone carrier to set up a payment arrangement to allow for additional flexibility. Typically this payment arrangement allows the customer to get an additional 30 days of leniency on their bill.

Temporary Employment

Mental Health Services

Housing Assistance

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. 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. 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 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.

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. In the case of a prolonged shutdown, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits may also be affected.

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 is not affected by 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, D.C. 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. 

Please do not hesitate to reach out to my Washington, DC office at (202) 225-7163 or my Sacramento office at (916) 498-5600 with any questions or concerns.