Federal Government Shutdown FAQs

The federal government shut down on Wednesday, October 1 due to a lapse in federal appropriations.

To help you navigate the shutdown, my staff has prepared answers to the questions we’re asked most frequently. Please feel free to also reach out to my offices with any questions or concerns:

• Bangor Office: 6 State Street, Bangor ME 04401. Phone: (207) 249-7400
• Caribou Office: 7 Hatch Drive, Suite 230, Caribou ME 04736. Phone: (207) 492-6009
• Lewiston Office: 179 Lisbon Street, Lewiston ME 04240. Phone: (207) 241-6767
• Washington Office: 1107 Longworth HOB, Washington DC 20515. Phone: (202) 225-6306 

Guidance from the executive branch on how the government operates during a shutdown varies, and may be subject to change with little notice. These answers will continue to be updated as more information becomes available. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• Which federal employees keep working during a government shutdown?
• What is the impact on state and local services in Maine?
• I have an issue with a government agency, can I still call them for help? Can your office help me instead?
• I already have a case open with your office, should I do anything during the shutdown?
• Will I continue to receive my Social Security and SSI checks?
• Will Medicare and Medicaid benefits be affected?
• What happens to veterans' services?
• Will military and federal retiree benefits be suspended?
• What is the impact on Maine military personnel and federal law enforcement?
• What happens to the CDC?
• What is the impact on food assistance?
• What is the impact on housing?
• How will this affect small businesses?
• Will my mail still arrive?
• Will air travel be affected?
• How does this affect passports and help for Mainers overseas?
• What does this mean for disaster relief efforts?
• How will this affect environmental protection and cleanup, such as PFAS mitigation?
• Will I still be able to visit Acadia National Park or Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument?
• I am planning to visit Washington, DC. How will my plans be affected if the government is shut down? 

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 "essential" or "nonessential." The employees classified as "essential" work without pay during the shutdown. The employees classified as "nonessential" are put on unpaid furlough. 

The administration has broad leeway in determining which employees are required to work without pay, and which are furloughed. Initial reports are that hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be placed on furlough.

What is the impact on state and local services in Maine?

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.

I have an issue with a government agency, can I still call them for help? Can your office help me instead?

During a shutdown, many agencies will have furloughed some of their staff, including their help desks. While we encourage you to call these agencies directly to see if they are able to assist you, you can also contact my office for assistance. My casework team will coordinate with federal agencies on your behalf and continue to provide you with updates. 

I already have a case open with your office, should I do anything during the shutdown?

My casework team is continuing to work on behalf of Mainers during a shutdown, including by submitting inquiries to federal agencies,opening new cases, helping with paperwork, and pushing for updates on ongoing cases. Given agency closures and furloughs, wait times may be longer than usual.

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, such as issuing Social Security cards and holding appointments for benefit applications. However, SSA will stop services, such as benefit verifications and processing overpayments, meaning that new recipients may see delays in claim processing times. 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 for at least three months. If the shutdown lasts longer, these benefits could be affected. 

What happens to veterans' services?

All Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities and clinics will remain operational. The VA will continue to process veterans’ benefits and dispense compensation and pension claims.

However, veterans will be affected by the shutdown of other services that they count on, including education and job training, and support for veteran-owned businesses. Additionally, VA call centers and hotlines will be temporarily closed, and Veterans Benefits Administration public contact services will not be available.

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.

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

All active-duty and Guard and Reservists on active-duty orders are deemed “essential employees” and therefore are required to work without pay. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has reported that service members’ last paycheck until the government re-opens will be on Oct. 1. They will continue their active duty assignments. 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.

What happens to the CDC? 

About two-thirds of the staff at the Centers for Disease Control will be furloughed. The agency will continue to respond to urgent outbreaks, but will cease coordination with state and local health departments on opioid overdose prevention, HIV prevention, and diabetes prevention. The agency won't communicate health-related information to the public, and response to public inquiries about public health matters will be suspended.

What is the impact on food assistance?

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be issued in November, pending the end of the shutdown or new guidance from the executive branch. Any remaining benefits on EBT cards can still be used. The Maine Department of Health and Human Services will continue to process applications and renewals during the shutdown. 

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is currently being federally funded through tariff revenue. It is uncertain how long this will continue, though individual states may use their own funds to continue the program in the case of paused federal funding. If that does occur, you can likely expect lower payments if you receive WIC benefits. 

For help finding available food resources, please visit 211Maine.org or reach out to one of my district offices.

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?

Small Business Association (SBA) District Office staff in Maine have been furloughed, and will not be available to respond to inquiries. The 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 U.S. Postal Service is not affected by a shutdown.

Will air travel be affected?

Air traffic controllers, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents will remain operational but roughly one-quarter of TSA staff will be furloughed, which could affect your planned travel. Due to staffing issues, there may be significant delays and longer wait times across the country.

How does this affect passports and help for Mainers 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 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, such as PFAS mitigation?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will stop inspecting most hazardous waste sites, as well as drinking water and chemical facilities. Efforts to address contaminants like PFAS will be delayed, and cleanup activities at Superfund sites will slow or cease.

Will I still be able to visit Acadia National Park or Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument?

While 64 percent of National Park Service staff have been placed on furlough, Acadia and Katahdin Woods & Waters will remain open with skeleton crews during the shutdown. Visitors should expect limited or no visitor services, and informational buildings will be closed. Visitors should also use extreme caution while enjoying the trails and other facilities in the parks, as park staffing will be limited. 

Campsites at Acadia, including Blackwoods and Schoodic campgrounds, remain open. Wild Gardens of Acadia, the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, Rockefeller Hall at Schoodic, and Schoodic Education Experience are closed. Cadillac Mountain’s summit road may be closed to vehicle traffic on a day-to-day basis, though the summit is still accessible by foot and bike traffic.

I am planning to visit Washington, DC. How will my plans be affected if the government is shut down?

While you are in D.C., some federally funded attractions may be closed or offering limited service. Open-air parks such as the National Mall and Rock Creek Park remain open during the shut down, and various monuments and memorials will also remain open, including Constitution Gardens, and the Dwight D. Eisenhower, Martin Luther King Jr., Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Korean War Veterans, Vietnam Veterans, WWI and WWII Veterans memorials. 

The free museums operated by the Smithsonian Institution, as well as the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, will use prior-year funding to remain open as usual until at least Monday, October 6. Once funding is exhausted, the Smithsonian will pursue an orderly shutdown. Their full shutdown procedure is available here. 

The National Gallery of Art will remain open using current funds until October 4.