Dear Neighbor,

Congresswoman Malliotakis here. With a federal government shutdown expected to begin tonight, I want to take a moment to explain which services will continue and which will be affected. First I want to explain how we got here.

On September 19, 2025, the House of Representatives passed a clean temporary extension to keep government funding at current levels through November 21, 2025. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats rejected this measure, voting against keeping the government open beyond September 30 while bipartisan negotiations would continue for this year's budget. Effective at midnight tonight, the federal government will shut down since Senator Schumer focused on partisan antics and failed to deliver seven Democrat votes needed to pass the very same bill he negotiated and supported four times before in March 2024, September 2024, December 2024, and March 2025. Republicans hold 53 seats in the Senate, however it takes 60 votes to pass any funding bill.

I have urged Senator Chuck Schumer and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries to put people over politics and support a clean extension of the same funding levels they helped negotiate and extend in March of this year. Over the past four years, Congress has passed 13 bipartisan continuing resolutions, and there’s no reason this time should have been any different.

Here are some of the most noticeable changes that will occur effective October 1, 2025, along with key services that will continue operating.

• Social Security: Payments for current recipients would continue because Social Security is deemed essential, but services for new claims could be delayed due to furloughed staff.

• Medicare and Medicaid: Current recipients would continue to receive benefits, but new applicants could see delays.

• Veterans Affairs: 96% of VA employees and the services veterans depend are deemed essential and would continue as normal during a government shutdown.

• Federal employees, including military members: Non-essential agencies would stop service, while essential workers such as TSA officers, air traffic controllers, would still report for duty. Furloughed federal employees would receive back pay when the shutdown ends.

• National Parks: Access may be restricted or limited. Visitor centers and services typically close, and sites like Fort Wadsworth, Great Kills, and Miller Field could remain accessible but without staffing, maintenance, or programming.

• USPS Mail Delivery: The United States Postal Service would continue operations and remain open.

• Department of Education & Student Loans: Pell Grants and federal student loans will continue, and payments will still be due. However, furloughed employees could cause delays in loan and grant disbursements, new federal grants, civil rights investigations, and student loan assistance.

• U.S. Passport Services: The processing of passport applications may be slowed or halted.

• Food Assistance Programs: People who receive benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would continue to receive funds, but new enrollment or renewals could face delays.

• Federal Courts: Can continue to operate for several weeks but eventually may need to scale back.

• The Internal Revenue Service (IRS): Will pause tax return audits and delays to responding to taxpayer questions.

• The Small Business Administration: Would not be able to issue new loans, with limited exceptions.

Our office will remain open and fully staffed to assist you during this difficult time. Social Security checks and VA benefits will continue. If you need help with a federal agency, please call my Staten Island office at 718-568-2870 or my Brooklyn office at 718-306-1620.

Sincerely,

Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis