Government Shutdown Resources

Regardless of a government shutdown, our office will remain open to assist you. Constituents of California's 27th Congressional District who need assistance can submit their request here or reach one of our caseworkers via phone during normal business hours at our district office locations. Please note that we will have a greatly reduced ability to assist constituents as many federal agencies will be closed due to the shutdown.

If you have a comment or would like to share how a shutdown impacts you, please send us a message or reach out to our offices:

Santa Clarita Office: (661) 568-4855
Antelope Valley Office: (661) 839-0532
Washington, D.C. Office: (202) 225-1956

Federal Services

Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid

Social Security and SSI checks will continue. However, new applications and benefit verifications may be delayed.
Medicare and Medicaid will continue. Access to benefits remains, though agency call centers may have longer wait times.

Veterans

VA hospitals and clinics will remain open.
Disability compensation and pensions will continue, although some administrative services, call centers, and hotlines may be delayed.
Military Health System (MHS) will continue to operate, as will the private sector under TRICARE. Patients should contact their hospitals or clinics to confirm appointments. There may be delays scheduling new appointments.

Food Assistance

SNAP (CalFresh) will continue at least in the short term, but extended shutdowns could impact future benefits.
WIC may face funding shortages quickly if the shutdown lasts.

Housing

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) may stop processing new loans, creating delays for buyers and homeowners.
Rental assistance programs could be impacted if the shutdown continues.

Travel & Passports

Air travel will continue, but expect possible TSA delays.
Passports and visas are fee-funded and will continue to be processed, though backlogs may occur.

Federal Employees & Contractors

“Essential” personnel (like TSA officers, border patrol, and military service members) will keep working but may not receive pay until after the shutdown ends.
Federal employees furloughed during the shutdown will receive back pay once the government reopens.
Federal contractors may face missed pay with no guarantee of retroactive compensation.
Federal employees may send a letter to their creditors or mortgage lenders explaining their lapse of pay once they have already explained the situation over the phone. Sample letters from the Office of Personnel Management can be found here: https://t.co/t6h6OzALsS.
Unemployment compensation is a federal-state program administered by state agencies. During a short-term, federal government shutdown, there should not be an interruption of benefits; however, there might be a delay in processing new applications. Check with the California Employment Development Department for information about specific concerns.

Federal Courts

Federal courts will remain open, but there may be limited operations.
Unless otherwise advised, all proceedings and deadlines remain in effect as scheduled, but you should check the local court or office for information specific to your needs.

Small Businesses & Grants

The Small Business Administration will stop processing most new loans.
Grants.gov remains open, but agency staff support may be limited.

Student Loans

Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans will continue to be disbursed as long as existing funding remains.
If the shutdown lasts for an extended period, school districts, colleges, and universities may begin to experience funding shortages.

Mail Delivery

The U.S. Postal Service is self-funded, and 500,000 employees will continue to deliver mail.

National Parks, Museums, & D.C. Tours

Some open-air national parks and monuments may remain accessible, but facilities, restrooms, and visitor centers could close.
Smithsonian museums and other federally funded sites may close.
The tour guides and visitor centers of federal government buildings are considered non-essential and will be closed during a shutdown. This means that all tours of the U.S. Capitol, White House, and FBI Building will be canceled during a shutdown.

Need Help?

Even if federal agencies are slowed down, my office can still process casework — from Social Security, Medicare, and VA claims, to passports and IRS issues.

Call my Santa Clarita or Antelope Valley offices, or use the Help with a Federal Agency request form to get help.