Press Release2025-10-01
Government Shutdown FAQs and Resources
Adam Gray
DCA-13 · Representative
Full Text
Government Shutdown FAQs and Resources <span>Government Shutdown FAQs and Resources</span> <div class="evo-page__field-evo-featured-media"> <div class="media-item media-image evo-featured-image"> <div class="image__field-media-image"> <div class="field__label font-weight-bold visually-hidden"> Image </div> <div class="field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="http://gray.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/gray.house.gov/files/styles/evo_featured_image/public/evo-media-image/issues-congress-mike-stoll-5-unsplash.jpg?itok=I6kq6d2Z" width="1200" height="800" alt="U.S. Capitol" class="img-fluid"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <span><span>Joanna.Duchesn…</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-10-01T08:59:50-04:00" title="Wednesday, October 1, 2025 - 08:59">Wed, 10/01/2025 - 08:59</time> </span> <div class="evo-page__body"><h2 class="text-align-center"><span><strong>GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN: HOW IT MAY IMPACT YOU</strong></span></h2><p><span>Funding for the federal government expired on <strong>September 30, 2025</strong>.</span></p><p><span>I’ve always been a strong advocate for bipartisanship, and I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to work together to find a commonsense compromise to keep the government open. I am committed to doing everything I can to make that happen.</span></p><p><span>A government shutdown may have serious impacts for Valley families. I want to make sure you have the right information on how a shutdown might affect you. </span></p><p><span>Each federal agency has its own contingency plan for a shutdown, and the effects can vary depending on how long it lasts. As time goes on, funds and resources may diminish, which could change how agencies operate and deliver services. Depending on the length of a shutdown, the below information about specific agencies may change. </span></p><p><span><strong>At any time during a government shutdown, please reach out to my offices with questions or concerns. We will continue operations and are here to support you.</strong></span></p><h3 class="text-align-center"><span><strong>What Happens During a Government Shutdown</strong></span></h3><h4><span><strong>My Offices</strong></span></h4><p><span>In accordance with <strong>guidance from the House of Representatives Committee on House Administration,</strong> during a potential shutdown our office operations will continue in Washington and Merced<strong>.</strong> Call my offices to stay in touch: (202) 225-1947 (Washington, DC) and (209) 226-6880 (Merced). </span><a href="https://gray.house.gov/address_authentication?form=/contact/email-me"><span>Send me an email here</span></a><span>.</span></p><p><span><strong>My staff will be available to continue to help with federal casework</strong>, but processing times with federal agencies could be delayed due to the shutdown. </span></p><h4><span><strong>Social Security</strong> </span></h4><p><span>The Social Security Administration (SSA) will continue to operate and process disbursements. 6.5 million Californians receive Social Security benefits, which are expected to continue going out during a shutdown. </span></p><p><span>However, the SSA will begin to scale back some services, including issuing Social Security cards and holding appointments for benefit applications. SSA will stop services like benefit verifications and processing overpayments. Customer service wait times will likely increase. </span></p><p><span>To get help with Social Security benefits during a shutdown, call my office in Merced at (209) 226-6880.</span></p><h4><span><strong>Unemployment Benefits </strong></span></h4><p><span>Federal unemployment benefits will continue to be dispersed to the California Employment Development Department (EDD). Unemployed workers will continue to receive benefits, and people who have exhausted their current benefit tier will progress to the next tier. </span></p><p><span>For more information, please contact the EDD at </span><a href="http://www.edd.ca.gov/"><span>http://www.edd.ca.gov/</span></a><span>.</span></p><h3><span><strong>Military and Federal Retiree Benefits</strong></span></h3><p><span>Military and federal retirees will continue to receive retirement benefits. Processing new applications or other requested changes will be delayed for the shutdown period.</span></p><h4><span><strong>Mail Delivery and Passports</strong> </span></h4><p><span>Post offices and postal workers will continue to operate and deliver mail. Passport and consular services will continue but may be affected by a prolonged government shutdown. </span></p><p><span>For more information about the Postal Service, head to </span><a href="http://www.usps.com/"><span>http://www.usps.com/</span></a><span>.</span></p><h4><span><strong>Medicare and Medicaid</strong> </span></h4><p><span>Current Medicare, Medicaid, and disability insurance beneficiaries will continue to receive benefits if a shutdown lasts less than three months. </spa