Impact of Government Shutdown on Washingtonians
There are more than 76,000 federal workers in Washington state, including military personnel and their families, civil servants, and essential workers. In addition to these folks, thousands of Washingtonians rely on both federal services and federally funded state services every day. Nearly every resident is likely to be impacted by the shutdown from air travel delays to furloughs and missed paychecks.
Here’s a guide to affected services and resources for where to find more information:
- What will happen to my Social Security & SSI, Medicare & Medicaid Benefits?
Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare benefits will continue to be issued.
Local offices will remain open to the public but provide reduced services. Learn more at the Social Security Administration website.
Medicare and Medicaid coverage will not be immediately interrupted. However, if the shutdown continues at length administrative delays and longer call wait times will occur. The Social Security Administration does not issue replacement Medicare cards during a shutdown.
- Will SNAP & WIC benefits continue?
One of the services that will be severely impacted by the shutdown is the services is Washington’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, which provides healthy food and nutrition support for more than 212,000 Washingtonians every year.
Based on normal utilization, internal estimates are that Washington WIC may be able to sustain benefits for approximately two weeks before a federal shutdown would force a full closure of the program. Until then, WIC is asking participants to continue using their benefits, go to their scheduled appointments, and access program services as usual.
The federal government remains at an impasse. If the impasse continues beyond October 31, 2025, DSHS will begin to see direct impacts. Current estimates suggest that the SNAP program will be the first impacted because of the shutdown.
Due to loss of federal funds, DSHS is required to make changes to the SNAP program, impacting clients and employees. Clients will not receive November food benefits if we still do not have federal funding as of November 1. We will begin notifying clients of this starting today, through messaging on social media, on websites and in call centers and office spaces.
Further, hundreds of DSHS employees who support the SNAP program might be impacted through temporary layoffs. If temporary layoffs take place, employees will be notified directly and provided with resources and information about health benefits and other pertinent details related to their temporary layoff.
These temporary layoffs also mean that starting Tuesday, November 4, DSHS Tribal outstations will not be staffed until the federal government reopens. Similarly, our agency’s mobile office teams will not operate from November 4 until the federal government shutdown is over.
Due to the shutdown, DOH will need to temporarily lay off or reduce work hours for about 50 employees starting October 6 whose positions are fully or partially funded by federal dollars. The majority of these positions are located in the Office of Nutrition Services, which manages the WIC program. Additionally, many contractors who carry out public health work, including private organizations, local health jurisdictions, and Tribes, may also be affected as DOH monitors several pending federal grants.
Find out more at the Washington State Department of Health website.
- Are Veteran’s services going to be affected?
During the shutdown the State Veterans Homes, State Veterans Cemetary, Transitional Housing Program, Counseling Program and all other WDVA programs remain open and ready to serve Veterans and families.
Some services that are immediately impacted include the Veteran career counseling or transition assistance program activities, the closure of the GI Bill hotline, and the closure of regional benefits offices.
Find out more at the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs website.
- What disability services will be impacted?
For those who rely on state supplied disability services the Division of Disability Determination Services will continue to process all disability claim types with support of state funding during a federal funding lapse.
- Do I need to continue paying my student loans, and will the FAFSA and WAFSA still be available to submit during the shutdown?
Student loan payments should continue to be made during the shutdown.
You may absolutely still file your FAFSA and WAFSA during the shutdown, although award notifications may be delayed until the shutdown ends.
- Do I still need to file taxes or will my tax refund be delayed?
Those who applied for and received a tax extension should file taxes as they normally would. Refunds may be delayed. More information on impacts to the IRS during the shutdown can be found here.
- What about Federal Disaster Relief?
FEMA’s website has the following message: Due to the lapse in federal funding, portions of this website may not be updated and some non-disaster assistance transactions submitted via the website may not be processed or responded to until after appropriations are enacted.
- How about federal housing loans, rental & housing assistance?
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has not provided guidance on what services will be suspended or provided during the shutdown beyond advising that it will use available resources to help Americans in need. State services through DSHS (funded through federal and state budgets) will continue operating as funds allow
- I’m a federal employee who has been furloughed in Washington. Can I get unemployment benefits?
You may be eligible for UI if you are a furloughed federal worker or a federal contractor who is not working during the shutdown period. Unemployment benefits for federal workers are available during the shutdown. Visit the WA Employment Security website to determine if you are eligible.
- Are military personnel still expected to report for duty during the shutdown?
Military personnel are expected to continue reporting for duty. Paychecks for service people will be suspended as of Oct. 15 unless action is taken by the U.S. Congress. Standard practice during previous shutdowns has been for missed pay to be recouped after the shutdown ends but that is also dependent on action from Congress.
Public Spaces & Utilities
- Will mail continue to be delivered and can I still send letters and packages?
The United States Postal Service will continue operating during the shutdown because it is an independent agency, funded through sales of its services and products, such as stamps and not dependent on federal funding.
- Will K-12 schools be impacted by the shutdown?
Schools will continue operating as normal during the shutdown, although some programs may see delayed funding, such as child nutrition programs.
Head Start, a federally funded program for kids ages 3 to 5 that serves about 20,000 kids in Washington will continue to run for now. The state is waiting on guidance from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to any program changes or suspensions during the shutdown.
Learn more at the Washington State Association of Head Start & ECEAP website.
- Will national parks remain open?
National parks, though remaining open to some degree, will be minimally staffed, meaning visitors and park resources face higher risk.
- Will federal and state court systems continue to function?
The latest news from www.UScourts.gov states:
The judicial branch announced that beginning on Monday, Oct. 20, it will no longer have funding to sustain full, paid operations. Until the ongoing lapse in government funding is resolved, federal courts will maintain limited operations necessary to perform the Judiciary’s constitutional functions.
Federal judges will continue to serve, in accordance with the Constitution, but court staff may only perform certain excepted activities permitted under the Anti-Deficiency Act.
Examples of excepted work include activities necessary to perform constitutional functions under Article III, activities necessary for the safety of human life and protection of property, and activities otherwise authorized by federal law. Excepted work will be performed without pay during the funding lapse. Staff members not performing excepted work will be placed on furlough.
Each appellate, district, and bankruptcy court will make operational decisions regarding how its cases and probation and pretrial supervision will be conducted during the funding lapse. Each court and federal defender’s office will determine the staffing resources necessary to support such work.
Anyone with Judiciary business should direct questions to the appropriate clerk of court’s office, probation and pretrial supervision office, or federal defender organization, or consult their websites. Find contact information and websites for federal court units.
Other shutdown information:
- The Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) system will remain in operation for electronic filing of documents. Case information will be available on PACER.
- Individual courts will determine which cases will continue on schedule, and which may be delayed.
- The jury program is funded by money not affected by the appropriations lapse and will continue to operate. Jurors should follow instructions from courts and report to courthouses as directed.
- The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, which maintains this website on behalf of the Judiciary, will not have staffing to answer the AO’s public telephone number. View contact information for the Administrative Office during the funding lapse.
A government-wide shutdown began Oct. 1. The Judiciary was able to continue paid operations through Oct. 17, with limited additional work performed over the weekend of Oct. 18-19, using court fee balances and other funds not dependent on a new appropriation.
- How will the shutdown impact air travel?
Air-traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration staff at Sea-Tac Airport are required to continue working without pay. Expect longer wait times and delays if you are traveling due to projected shutdown-related staffing shortages.
During the shutdown essential services like certification and oversight of commercial airplanes and engines will continue, although the hiring and field training of air traffic controllers, facility security inspections, and support for law enforcement has been suspended.
- Will citizenship & immigration services continue to operate?
State immigration and citizenship services are a function of the Department of Social and Health Services. Most programs and services should continue as usual during the shutdown. Visit www.dshs.wa.gov for more information.
Federal Citizenship and Immigration services may be furloughed during the shutdown, resulting in longer wait times and delayed proceedings for customers. Learn more at www.uscis.gov.