Government Shutdown FAQ

Due to a lapse in government funding, the federal government entered a shutdown at midnight on March 15, 2025. Rest assured, I am hard at work trying to break the logjam in Congress and ensure that we fulfill our most fundamental responsibility. In the meantime, both my D.C. and Chicago offices are fully operational. Below, I have provided some answers to frequently asked questions about the shutdown. You can also call my DC office at (202) 225-4061 or my Chicago office at (773) 267-5926 with questions or to share your concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions

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• What causes a government shutdown?
• Will I continue to receive my Social Security?
• Will Medicare or Medicaid be interrupted?
• Is USPS still delivering mail?
• Will my student loans continue to be disbursed?
• What happens to federal employees during a shutdown?
• Do military personnel continue working?
• Can veterans still get treatment at the VA or access other services?
• Should I cancel my upcoming travel?
• I'm coming to DC, will my tours still take place?
• What about international travel?
• Will my passport renewal still be processed?
• Will immigration applications still be processed?
• Are National Parks closed?
• I have an issue with a government agency, can I still call them for help? Can you help me instead?
• I already have a case open with your office, should I do anything during the shutdown?
• I rely on food programs like SNAP and WIC, will I keep getting my payments?

What causes a government shutdown?
The government shuts down when Congress is unable to pass appropriations bills that finance the operations of federal agencies and programs. These appropriations bills are designed to fund the government until the conclusion of each fiscal year, which ends on September 30. Currently, the government is funded through March 14, 2025. If a new appropriations bill isn't enacted by this deadline, Congress needs to pass a temporary measure, known as a continuing resolution (CR), which sustains the government's funding at its current level. In the absence of an approved appropriations bill 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 new benefit verification and card issuance services have ceased, meaning new recipients may see delays in processing their claims. You may also experience difficulty reaching the Social Security Administration as some employees may be furloughed.

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. 

Is USPS still delivering mail?
All services under the Postal Service will continue unimpacted throughout the 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. However, department staff needed to carry out and support these functions are significantly reduced. Free Applications for Student Aids (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 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. 

Do military personnel continue working?
The Department of Defense will continue defending our nation and all military personnel will continue their usual duty. However, our service members will not receive pay during the shutdown. It is unacceptable that the men and women who put their lives on the line for our nation are going unpaid because of House Republican chaos.

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?
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. Roughly 82,766 people fly through Illinois airports every day and now face potential delays and safety concerns due to staffing impacts on TSA agents and air traffic controllers. Please have patience with any delays and keep in mind that both TSA and air traffic controllers are currently working without pay.

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, 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. 

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.

Will immigration applications still be processed?
Visa and passport operations are fee-funded and thus are not normally impacted by a lapse in appropriations. 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. The Department of Homeland Security estimates that Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement will retain the vast majority of their employees during a shutdown. Immigration offices will remain open, and all applicants should attend interviews and appointments as scheduled. 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.

Are National Parks closed?
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.

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 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, submitting paperwork, and opening new cases. We will provide you with an update as soon as it is available.

I rely on food programs like SNAP and WIC, will I keep getting my payments?
SNAP payments will continue during the month of March but if the shutdown lasts into April or beyond, benefits may be impacted. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), will only continue at the state and local level. In Illinois, this means over 165,000 people are at risk of losing nutrition assistance, including nearly 45,000 infants.