Constituent Services During the Government Shutdown
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October 1, 2025
As of October 1, 2025
We are working to make this Schumer Shutdown the least painful as possible, and our offices remain open and fully staffed to assist you during this difficult time. We received more information from Russell Vought, Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and here are the services that are impacted by the shutdown:
Military: Our servicemembers including the tens of thousands based in New York will not be paid during the shutdown.
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Program: Assistance will continue until existing funds run out in the next few days.
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: 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: Currently parks in our district including Fort Wadsworth Great Kills, and Miller Field remain accessible but without staffing, maintenance and programing.
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.
The Senate requires 60 votes to pass funding bills which means seven Democrats must join the 53 Republican Senators to end this shutdown. We once again urge Senator Schumer to provide the seven Democrat votes needed to end this shutdown and reopen the government. He negotiated these funding levels in 2024 and Senate Democrats voted to extend them three additional times. There is no good reason they can’t do so now.