What Happens When the Government Shuts Down?
Due to a lapse in government funding, the federal government entered a shutdown at midnight on September 30, 2025.
Make no mistake: Republicans refused to negotiate on critical health care tax credits, and now families across South Texas and the country are paying the price. Without action, premiums will more than double for many households.
Republicans rushed to extend tax cuts for billionaires by July 4 — yet they’ve left middle-class families, small business owners, veterans, and farmers to wonder whether they can afford coverage.
I’m fighting to end this shutdown, protect your health care, and make sure South Texans don’t get left behind.
Additionally, if you are being directly impacted by the government shutdown and are from Texas' 28th Congressional District: I'd like to hear your story! Please fill out the form HERE.
Why Shutdowns Happen
Shutdowns occur when Congress does not approve new spending before the previous bills expire. In this case, Republicans have chosen brinkmanship over bipartisanship — leaving the American people to suffer the consequences.
Shutdowns are uncommon, but when they happen, families feel it. In our nation’s history, only four shutdowns have lasted longer than a day. The longest — in 2018–2019 — stretched on for 35 days, costing the U.S. economy an estimated $11 billion, and disrupting lives across the country. Federal workers lost paychecks, families cut back on spending, and the ripple effects hit communities across the country. This shutdown will be no different.
Normally, disagreements about how to spend taxpayer dollars are resolved through bipartisan cooperation, or through short-term extensions that keep the government running while negotiations continue. But this year, House Republicans refused to meet us halfway.
Here’s the reality:
My offices in Washington, DC; Laredo, TX; Rio Grande City, TX; and San Antonio, TX remain operational during the shutdown, and my staff and I are available to assist with any urgent matters. Should you have any casework/shutdown needs, please continue to reach out using the contact information below!
I remain committed to coming to the table to work with my colleagues across the aisle to ensure our government works for you, the American people.
I’ll continue sharing updates with you by email, text, and social media as this situation develops.
MYTH: Undocumented immigrants are eligible for federal health care programs and benefits.
FACT: Federal law explicitly prohibits undocumented immigrants from accessing these programs. They cannot enroll in Medicaid, Medicare, or the Affordable Care Act marketplace, and they cannot receive federal health care subsidies.
Our fight in Congress is about protecting affordable care for working families. It's never been about expanding federal benefits to people who are already ineligible under current law.
Federal law settled this nearly 30 years ago. The 1996 welfare reform law explicitly barred undocumented immigrants from accessing federal benefits like Medicaid, Medicare, and ACA subsidies. That has been the law of the land ever since.
Republicans themselves have admitted this. Earlier this year, they passed the One, Big, Beautiful Bill and claimed victory on the issue, saying it ensured undocumented immigrants could not access federal benefits. Yet now they continue to recycle the same false talking point to justify harmful cuts to health care.
The truth is simple: undocumented immigrants do not qualify for federal health benefits and haven’t for decades. This fight is about whether working families in Texas will keep their affordable coverage, not about benefits for undocumented individuals.
Below, you’ll find a helpful Q&A about how government services will be impacted during this shutdown — as well as clear answers that dispel Republican myths about our critical fight to protect affordable health care coverage. Please note that information may change as federal agencies adjust to the lapse in funding.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Federal Employees
What happens to federal employees during a shutdown?
Roughly 40 percent of the federal workforce is furloughed during a shutdown, while the rest must continue working without pay. That includes Border Patrol agents, Customs officers, and TSA screeners. In South Texas, thousands of men and women protecting our border and keeping travelers safe are being asked to serve without a paycheck.
In our district, nearly 15,000 federal workers are currently affected. That’s why I signed a letter refusing my Congressional pay. If they must endure this hardship, I will not exempt myself from it. I recognize their struggle, and I share their concern
Social Security
Will I continue to receive my Social Security?
A shutdown will not impact Social Security benefit payments, but be aware that benefit verifications have stopped, meaning new recipients may see delays in processing their claims.
Health Care
How does the shutdown affect health care coverage and costs?
Medicare, Medicaid, and disability insurance currently have the funding to sustain themselves for up to three months during a shutdown. Beneficiaries will continue to receive their benefits during that time, but a shutdown lasting longer than three months will begin to impact families.
Here in TX-28, 55,000 of my constituents are already at risk of losing their Medicaid coverage due to the partisan budget bill. With ACA tax credits expiring in the event of a shutdown, another 113,000 will see their monthly premiums surge by thousands of dollars. Nationally, more than 22 million Americans will see their premiums skyrocket and over 4 million will lose coverage altogether.
What does that mean practically? A family of four making $125,000 will see their health care costs jump by $7,700. A 60-year-old couple making $80,000 will pay $17,500 more. A family of four making $64,000 will pay $2,600 more.
Veterans and Service Members
Will veterans and service members still receive benefits and pay?
Medical care at VA hospitals and clinics will continue, but veterans will face delays in education benefits, job training programs, and loan processing.
All active-duty service members — including thousands stationed here in Texas — are still required to work during this shutdown. Many federal law enforcement officers are, too. But none of them will receive a paycheck until the shutdown ends.
That’s unacceptable, which is why I helped introduce the bipartisan Pay Our Military Act as an original cosponsor. This bill guarantees that our troops, reservists on active duty, essential civilian personnel at the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, and contractors who support the mission continue to be paid during a shutdown.
Families in South Texas and across the country should never wonder if a partisan stalemate will stop their paycheck. Protecting military pay is common sense. It’s about readiness, family stability, and keeping our promise to those who serve.
Disaster Relief
How does a shutdown impact FEMA and disaster recovery efforts?
When disasters strike, Texans know how important FEMA’s disaster relief fund is. Unfortunately, during a government shutdown, that fund is put under enormous strain. FEMA can continue to respond to immediate life-and-safety emergencies, but funding for long-term recovery projects is delayed.
That means communities like Kerr County — still working to recover from devastating flooding — may be left waiting for the resources they need to rebuild. Families and local governments depend on these funds to repair homes, restore infrastructure, and support recovery.
Food Assistance
Will SNAP and school meals continue during a shutdown?
Over 3.4 million Texans rely on SNAP to put food on the table. With 17% of Texas households already facing food insecurity, we can’t afford to cut back on school meals or nutrition assistance. During this shutdown, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — commonly known as food stamps — will continue to provide payments until current funding runs out. SNAP recipients should still receive their October 2025 payments. But if this shutdown continues, future benefits could be disrupted.
Travel and Transportation
What happens to TSA, air traffic controllers, and travel safety?
While our airports remain open, many Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees are now working without pay. According to the Department of Homeland Security, nearly 58,500 TSA employees will continue reporting for duty during this shutdown, but families should expect longer lines and more delays.
Currently, the FAA is unable to move forward with hiring, training, and recertifying new air traffic controllers — at a time when we already face workforce shortages. On average, more than 44,000 flights take off every day in the United States, and this shutdown puts added strain on the National Airspace System.
Critical safety workers, including over 13,000 air traffic controllers, rail safety inspectors, and hazmat inspectors, are still on the job but won’t be paid until the shutdown ends. This not only hurts their families, it also undermines the safety and reliability of our transportation system.
Visas and Passports
Can I still apply for a passport or visa during a shutdown?
Passport and visa services will continue for now, but delays are likely if the shutdown lasts. Routine immigration applications are funded by fees, so agencies like U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) continue processing cases. But certain programs — like the Special Immigrant Religious Worker program — will lapse, and visa interviews could be curtailed to only urgent or emergency cases if consular fees run low.
Immigration courts will also be affected: detained cases will proceed, but non-detained cases will be postponed until after the shutdown. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), USCIS, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will keep most staff on duty, but many of those employees are working without pay.
National Parks and Museums
Will national parks, monuments, and museums stay open?
During a shutdown, all national parks, monuments, and Smithsonian museums are at risk of closing their doors. We’ve seen this before — in 2013, every park was shut down, and the closures cost our country an estimated $500 million in lost economic activity. Families lost access to public lands, small businesses near the parks lost customers, and communities paid the price for Washington’s dysfunction.
For now, the Smithsonian Institution has enough prior-year funding to stay open through at least Monday, October 6. After that, their operations will depend on whether resources can be stretched further. I’ll continue to monitor the situation and keep you updated as funding decisions are made.
U.S. Postal Service
Is the Postal Service impacted by a government shutdown?
The Postal Service will continue to operate during the shutdown. USPS has made clear that “operations will not be interrupted in the event of a government shutdown, and all Post Offices will remain open for business as usual.”
Because USPS is generally funded through the sale of its products and services — not through taxpayer dollars — mail delivery and other services will not be impacted.
The Bottom Line:
A government shutdown doesn’t impact politicians — it harms everyday Americans. It disrupts vital services, halts disaster relief, and puts countless federal employees out of work.
I’ll work with anyone and everyone to keep the government open and a bipartisan path is the only way forward. We owe it to the American people to prioritize their well-being and best interests. It’s time to stop wasting time and fund our government.
