Government Shutdown Update

Capitol Building
October 1, 2025
e-Newsletter Archive

*Please note that this newsletter was sent out on October 1. To view the most relevant guidance and updates on the shutdown, please visit this page. 

Please know that my team and I understand that this shutdown will be a challenge for families in communities across Michigan's 5th District and will continue to work during this time. 

This year, we have responded to over one hundred thousand constituent messages, and we will continue to do so during the shutdown. We have also helped Michigan's 5th District residents with casework, ensuring constituents receive the information they need and trying to resolve various issues with federal agencies, such as the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Unfortunately, our ability to assist constituents with situations like this will be impacted by the shutdown, as many departments and agencies will not be processing casework during this period. However, that work will resume once federal funding is resolved. If you are experiencing an issue with a federal agency, please call my Jackson District Office at (517) 780-9075 or fill out the contact form on my website, and we will work with you on the paperwork that must be completed so we can file your case as soon as the federal funding is passed. 

During this time, my team and I will not be able to process flag orders or arrange tours of the United States Capitol, the White House, and other landmarks for constituents visiting Washington, D.C. If you are traveling to D.C. during this time, my office will still be open to visitors.  If you have any questions regarding flags or tours, please call my D.C. office at (202) 225-6276 or fill out the contact form here. 

For those traveling, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will continue to operate. However, there may be longer-than-usual wait times to go through security at the airport. If you have a flight planned, I recommend arriving at the airport early to ensure you get through security in a timely manner. Please have patience with any delays and keep in mind that both TSA and air traffic controllers are currently working without pay.

For those who plan to travel internationally and need to renew their passport or get a new passport, it is recommended that you begin the process as soon as possible, as the shutdown may lead to longer delays. All services at international embassies and consulates will continue during a lapse of appropriations. If you are abroad and need help, please contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Social Security beneficiaries will continue to receive their Social Security, Social Security Disability Insurance, and SSI payments. However, benefit verifications will be discontinued. The public will also likely face extended wait times. 

Currently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services programs will continue to operate as normal. The Medicare program will continue during a lapse in funding, and CMS will have sufficient funding for the Medicaid program through the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, based on advance appropriations. 

All VA Medical Centers, Outpatient Clinics, and Vet Centers will be open and providing all services. VA benefits, including compensation, pension, education, and housing benefits will continue to be processed and delivered. The Board of Veterans’ Appeals will also continue to operate normally. The VA Call Center will remain open and can be reached at 1-800-MyVA411. The Veterans Crisis Center is also available 24/7 to help veterans who call 988.

Unfortunately, some VA services will be impacted by the shutdown. Regional benefits offices will be closed and the GI Bill hotline, National Cemetery Applicant Assistance hotline, career counseling programs, and transition assistances programs will be suspended. 

For more information and updates on the Department of Veteran Affairs, please click here. 

The U.S. Postal Service will not be interrupted.

If you filed for a six-month extension for your tax return in April, you are still required to file by October 15. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is expected to maintain normal operations during a shutdown, meaning tax refunds and support should be available. 

For more information, you can view the IRS's contingency plan here. 

Park roads, lookouts, trails, and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to visitors. However, if visitor access becomes a safety, health, or resource protection issue (weather, road conditions, resource damage, garbage build-up to the extent that it endangers human health or wildlife, etc.), the area must be closed. 

For more information, please visit the Department of the Interior's website here.