DISCLAIMER: This page was last updated on October 1, 2025. Please reach out to the respective federal agencies for the most up to date information on their operations.
Staying Informed During the 2025 Government Shutdown
The government shutdown began at 12:01 am ET on October 1, 2025. I am continuing to work to end the shutdown and pass a government funding plan that meets the needs of Southern Nevadans. In the meantime, here is what you need to know about how a shutdown impacts you:
US Postal Service
· Post offices will remain open, and mail delivery will continue.
Food Assistance Programs
· 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.
Social Security
· Social Security checks will be mailed as usual.
· Other Social Security Administration services to be suspended or significantly delayed, including processing new applications and replacing cards.
· Customer wait times will dramatically increase.
Medicare, Medicaid, and Disability Benefits
· Current Medicare, Medicaid, and disability insurance beneficiaries will continue to receive their benefits, assuming a shutdown lasts less than three months.
Veterans
· The VA Medical Centers will remain open.
· The VA will continue to process veterans’ benefits.
· VA call centers and hotlines will be temporarily closed, and Veterans Benefits Administration public contact services will not be available.
Travel
· All aviation security workers, including TSA officers and air traffic controllers, are working without pay. That may create staffing issues and lead to longer security wait times or flight delays.
· Passport services may experience significant delays.
· Online applications for TSA PreCheck are being accepted, but the Department of Homeland Security suspends Global Entry applications.
Federal Employees
· Agencies will determine essential personnel on a case-by-case basis. Those classified as essential will be required to work without pay. Employees classified as not essential are put on unpaid furlough.
· Once the government reopens, all federal workers receive their full pay.
Military Personnel
· All active-duty servicemembers, as well as National Guard members and Reservists on active-duty orders, are classified as essential and required to work without pay.
· On-base non-acute healthcare will cease. Off-base care provided through Tricare will not be affected. On-base childcare will be open on a case-by-case basis.
National Parks
· Most national parks will be closed. In the parks and memorials that remain open, visitor services will be limited.
· We recommend visiting the website of the attraction you are interested in visiting or contacting their office for specific information.
o Lake Mead National Recreation Area Website
o Red Rock Canyon Las Vegas Website
o Great Basin National Park Website
Visiting Washington DC
· Many popular attractions may be closed. We encourage you to reach out to the office of the attraction you are interested in visiting for more information.
· U.S. Capitol tours will not be offered. If you have booked a tour and wish to reschedule, please fill out my tour request form and note on the form that you are rescheduling due to the government shutdown.
Small Businesses
· The Small Business Administration (SBA) will not process new business loans.
FEMA
· FEMA staff will continue to respond to emergencies, but long-term projects will be delayed due to a lack of funding in the Disaster Relief Fund.
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS)
· USCIS remains open and continues to process applications.
· You should expect to attend interviews and appointments as scheduled.
