Guidance

Shutdown  

As your Congressman, I’m committed to keeping you informed about how the shutdown may impact your daily life. Below are answers to common questions and other essential details. 

During a shutdown, my Washington, D.C., and district office will remain open to support you and your family. For assistance, contact my district office at (303) 723-6560 or my D.C. office at (202) 225-5625 to talk to my team or leave a detailed message. For help with constituent services (e.g., passports, IRS, immigration, VA casework), reach out to my Northglenn district office.  

 
What is a government shutdown?  

  • A shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass appropriations bills or a continuing resolution (CR) to fund federal agencies and programs by the fiscal year deadline (September 30), leading to a lapse in authorized funding. 
  • Agencies implement contingency plans: non-essential employees are furloughed (unpaid leave), while essential personnel continue working without pay; services deemed non-critical are suspended or reduced. 
  • Shutdowns can be partial or full, affecting annual appropriation-funded agencies but not fee-funded or independently operated ones like the U.S. Postal Service. 
  • Impacts vary by agency, with plans available via the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) website for the latest details.   

How can I get help during a shutdown?  

  • Contact my office to assist with federal agency issues. We will continue submitting inquiries and paperwork despite furloughs. 
  • For mental health support call 988 Suicide Lifeline for 24/7 confidential counseling. 
  • Check agency contingency plans on Miscellaneous – OMB – The White House for updates; communicate with your agency if a federal employee.  

I have an issue with a federal agency; can I still call them for help? Can you help me instead?  

  • During a federal government shutdown, many federal departments and agencies furlough workers, so their help desks may have little or no staffing. 
  • You can contact my office to open a case for you, and we can contact an agency on your behalf and provide you with updates if they are open or when they re-open at the conclusion of a shutdown. 
  • During a shutdown, my office will continue to submit inquiries to federal agencies including requesting updates on constituents’ behalf, submitting paperwork, and opening new cases.   

Will I continue to receive Social Security, SSI, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits?  

  • Social Security and SSI: Payments continue uninterrupted; limited SSA services like card issuance and benefit applications persist, but verifications, overpayment processing, and customer service face delays and longer wait times. 
  • Medicare and Medicaid: Benefits and coverage continue (assuming shutdown under three months), including open enrollment starting October 15; however, contacting agencies may be difficult due to furloughed staff, and some communications could be delayed or outdated.  

Do Veterans receive benefits during a government shutdown?  

  • Many crucial benefits and services provided by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) continue for Veterans during a government shutdown. 
  • Essential functions include: 
  • Benefits processing like compensation, pension, education, and housing benefits  
  • Veteran healthcare, to include the Veterans Crisis Line  
  • Burials at VA national cemeteries 
  • The Board of Veterans' Appeals will continue to process appeals during a shutdown to ensure Veterans' requests and concerns are addressed in a timely manner 
  • It is important to note that a government shutdown will lead to some restrictions and disruptions and could affect the following areas for Veterans: 
  • The VA cannot conduct public affairs outreach activities during a government shutdown; this means that some Veterans may not receive the usual level of communication and support from the VA they might be used to.
  • VA regional offices are often closed during a government shutdown which may affect in-person services.
  • Operations like career counseling and transition assistance and cemetery grounds maintenance may be unavailable as they are often considered non-essential. 

How are Active-Duty service members affected?  

  • Active-Duty service members will not be paid until Congress reaches an agreement on government spending or if Congress passes legislation explicitly authorizing military pay. I am a co-sponsor of H.R. 5401 - Pay our Troops Act of 2026, which would provide continuing appropriations for military pay for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2026 are not in effect (i.e., a government shutdown).  
  • Services on military installations, such as childcare centers and commissaries, could face operational adjustments or closures depending on the length of the shutdown and the specific funding sources. 
  • In past government shutdowns, schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) were deemed essential and to remain open during the regular school year. However, sporting events and extracurricular activities, including sports practices might be paused unless the activity is fully funded by other means.  
  • If your child goes to day care at on on-base Child Development Center (CDC), it is recommended to call and check for closures. Some centers might remain open, while others will likely close on a case-by-case basis.   

What about food assistance programs like SNAP, WIC, and Head Start?  

  • SNAP: Benefits continue for at least 1-month post-shutdown (e.g., until resources run out); prolonged shutdowns risk disruptions for recipients. 
  • WIC: Benefits may be delayed or suspended. State/local operations continue only until resources deplete; prolonged shutdowns risk serious disruptions for millions of recipients. 
  • Head Start: Grants cannot be awarded; impacts worsen over time for childcare support. You should contact your child’s Head Start program for further guidance.  

What about disaster relief, environmental protection, and public health?  

  • FEMA responds to emergencies, but long-term projects and Disaster Relief Fund activities will be delayed due to lack of funding. Furthermore NOAA, and by extension the NWS, will remain operational.
  • Emergency and disaster assistance will continue with delays. Issuance of new grants and interagency agreements will cease unless necessary for excepted or exempted activities. 
  • The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will continue clinical care for current patients at the NIH Clinical Center, but no new patients will be admitted, and most grant-making and research support will cease.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will continue operating its 24/7 emergency operations center, outbreak detection, laboratory testing, and critical health monitoring. Many research projects, grant programs, and communications functions will cease.
  • Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities will remain open and continue providing care. Certain administrative and support staff may be reduced.
  • All Food and Drug Administration (FDA) activities related to imminent threats to the safety of human life or protection of property will continue. This includes addressing existing critical public health challenges by managing recalls, mitigating drug shortages, and responding to outbreaks related to foodborne illness and infectious diseases.
  • The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)  will continue operations related to certain farm loan processing items, certain natural resource and conservation programs, core nutrition safety net programs, essential food safety operations to protect public health, responding to and preparing for wildland fires, activities supported by user fees, and animal and plant health emergency programs (including new world screwworm, highly pathogenic avian influenza, exotic fruit flies, African swine fever, and rabies).

I have a trip to Washington, D.C. planned soon. What should I expect?  

  • During a government shutdown, the Capitol Visitor Center will be closed and there will be no public tours of the U.S. Capitol building.
  • All Library of Congress buildings, the U.S. Botanic Garden, the White House, the National Archives, the U.S. Treasury, and the FBI Building will also be closed to the public. 
  • The Smithsonian Museums will continue to stay open until Monday, October 6th. More updates may be found here: Smithsonian Institution | Home.  

Will my mail still be delivered?  

  • Yes, all U.S. Postal Service operations continue unaffected, as it is an independent agency not reliant on annual appropriations.  

How are student loans, small businesses, and housing affected?  

  • Student Loans: Payments remain required; processing for FAFSA, Pell Grants, and loan forgiveness delays due to Department of Education staff furloughs. 
  • Small Businesses: The Small Business Administration halts new loans. However, SBA’s Disaster Loan Program will continue regular operations.  
  • Housing: The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will have limited staff during a shutdown, and the processing or closing of FHA-insured loans may be delayed. All FHA underwriting and processing requirements would remain in force during the government shutdown, and no loan may be endorsed that does not fulfill those requirements.  

Will travel, immigration, and tax services be impacted?  

  • Travel: Air traffic controllers, TSA, and CBP agents work without pay; passport processing is unaffected and will continue. All services at international embassies and consulates continue during a shutdown. If you are abroad and need help, you can contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. 
  • Taxes: IRS operations (phone support, disputes, refunds) could be delayed.  

How does this affect Americans abroad?   

I would like to purchase a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol. Can I still request one?  

  • No. The U.S. Capitol Flag Office will be closed during the shutdown. Flag requests cannot be processed  

I’m a federal retiree. Will I still receive my monthly annuity payment during a government shutdown?  

  • Yes, federal retirees under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) will continue to receive their scheduled annuity payments on the first business day of the month. 
  • Contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan will be halted until the government reopens. Please check Lapse in Appropriations (government shutdown) | The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) for updates. 

I am a government contractor, what should I expect?  

  • New contracts or modifications are unlikely to be issued, and there will be delays in the acquisition process for procurements. 
  • Reach out to the contracting officer on each project as it is possible that some contracts will remain unaffected.  

Will state and local services be affected?  

  • With no new federal funding, some state or local governments may have to change their operations. Please check with state and local agencies for specific questions. Updates may be found here.

Do furloughed employees get back pay?  

  • Yes, under the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, all furloughed or unpaid essential workers receive immediate retroactive pay once funding resumes.  

I’m a federal employee, what are some good resources for me during this shutdown?  

All Agency contingency plans. 

OPM Operating Status. 

OPM Shutdown Furlough Guidance. 

Thrift Saving Plan  

USAGov 

Department of Labor 

For agency-specific details, visit your department’s .gov site (e.g., www.dhs.gov, www.va.gov) and check their HR or shutdown resource pages.  

Issues: Agriculture and Production Armed Forces Border Security and Immigration Congress Healthcare Seniors Economy Health Veterans