Name: Government Shutdown: Delays in Social Security Services, Food Programs, and More
Uploaded: 2025-10-02T04:39:49.000Z
Description: Americans are now facing uncertainty about how the shutdown could personally affect them and the services they use.

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A government shutdown officially began on Wednesday after Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep government services open before the midnight deadline.

The Oct. 1 shutdown marks the third time President Donald Trump has presided over <span class="LinkEnhancement">a federal funding lapse</span>, the first since his return to the White House this year.

Republicans and Democrats have placed blame on each other for failing to agree on a short-term funding bill to keep the government open. Nonetheless, Americans are now facing uncertainty about how the shutdown could personally affect them and the services they use.

According to Lawrence Sprung, founder of Mitlin Financial, essential services will not be impacted, while other non-essential services will be affected.

“The important thing here to remember is that the government, now that they’re shut down, can only spend on what is considered, deemed, essential services,” Sprung told NTD on Wednesday.
<h2>Social Security</h2>
Social Security is considered an essential service and will continue running.

“Social Security and Supplemental Security Income payments to beneficiaries will continue with no change in payment dates,” <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/agency/shutdown/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery">the agency wrote in an update</a>.

Social Security offices will remain open for <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/agency/shutdown/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery">some in-person services</a> only.

This includes issuing new or replacement Social Security cards, issuing critical payments, verifying or changing citizenship status, and processing a change in living arrangement or income for SSI recipients, according to the Social Security Administration.
<h2>Medicare and Medicaid</h2>
Americans who rely on Medicare and Medicaid will still receive payments.

“Mission-critical care” will continue during the government shutdown, according to a <a href="https://x.com/HHSGov/status/1973440838010282287">statement by Health and Human Services</a>, the agency that oversees the federal programs.

Seniors who depend on Medicare, however, could face new challenges in receiving medical care during the governement shutdown.

Specifically, two federal programs that were relaxed during the Coronavirus pandemic, meant to expand access to health care for seniors, expired on Tuesday. One of those programs gave more flexibility in telehealth services and another program allowed hospitals to provide high-level care at home.
<h2>Mail Services</h2>
The U.S. Postal Service will continue running.

“U.S. Postal Service operations will not be interrupted in the event of a government shutdown, and all Post Offices will remain open for business as usual,” USPS wrote in a <a href="https://about.usps.com/newsroom/statements/092525-postal-service-not-affected-by-a-government-shutdown.htm">Sept. 25 statement.</a> “Because we are an independent entity that is generally funded through the sale of our products and services, and not by tax dollars, our services will not be impacted by a government shutdown.”

Museums and other forms of recreation will not operate as normal during the funding lapse.

“Certain things that are non-essential are like parks, zoos, things like that, that are not essentially to everyday economy, so those are not going to continue,” Sprung told NTD.
<h2>Low-Income Programs</h2>
Low-income families can also expect disruptions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) and the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) programs.

SNAP provides food benefits to support low-income families, while WIC provides free healthy foods, breastfeeding support, and nutrition education to low-income families.

SNAP benefits are expected to run through the month of October..

“SNAP recipients should receive their October 2025 payments, even if a government shutdown occurs,” according to a <a href="https://frac.org/blog/how-will-government-shutdown-affect-snap-benefits">statement</a> by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC).

If a shutdown extends beyond mid-October, the government could possibly tap its contingency reserve funding to cover SNAP costs, FRAC said.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said WIC will “lapse” under the shutdown.
<h2>Military, Federal Workers</h2>
Military services are considered essential to keep the country safe and active duty military members must continue to report to duty, but won't get paid.

The Department of War <a href="https://x.com/DOWResponse/status/1973441606851371292">confirmed on X</a> that U.S. troops will not receive any paychecks during the government shutdown.

1.3 million active duty troops will work without pay, Leavitt said during a press briefing on Wednesday.

Nearly 50,00 members of the Coast Guard will work without pay.

Pay will stop for more than 150,000 law enforcement officers.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-trump-health-care-54b2a584657a0b619bc8326708a05604">Roughly 750,000 federal workers</a> are expected to be furloughed, and many offices will be shuttered, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
<h2>Travel</h2>
The Transportation Security Agency (TSA) <a href="https://x.com/TSA/status/1973449750532989414"> said on X</a> that it will continue to screen 2.5 million passengers per day.

“While TSA is prepared to continue screening about 2.5M passengers a day, an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports. We kindly ask for our passengers’ patience during this time,” the agency wrote.

More than 13,000 air traffic controllers will work without pay, as well as TSA agents, which will likely lead to flight delays, Leavitt said.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), which represents more than 20,000 of these controllers and aviation safety professionals, said many of its employees already work 10 hours a day, 6 days a week, to make sure flights and cargo arrive safely.

“A government shutdown adds unnecessary distraction to their work, adding strain on a workforce that is already stretched thin working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, operating the most complex airspace in the world,” NATCA said in a <a href="https://www.natca.org/shutdown/#">statement.</a>
<h2>Illegal Immigration Crackdown</h2>
Trump's deportation agenda is expected to continue to operate.

"There is NO CHANGE to U.S. immigration laws or border enforcement," ICE wrote in a<a href="https://x.com/ICEgov/status/1973337418058109328"> statement</a> on Wednesday morning. "Rumors that a U.S. government shutdown will allow illegal immigrants to enter the United States are FALSE. U.S. immigration laws and enforcement efforts remain unchanged. Border security and enforcement efforts remain strict, and crossing the border without authorization remains a crime."

<em>Stefania Cox contributed to this report.</em>

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