SHUTDOWN FAQ

Though these essential functions will continue, we know that the livelihoods of many

families in our district are at stake and over 800,000 federal employees are furloughed

with pay.

This manufactured crisis is putting undue burden on workers and many of the most

vulnerable members of our community. House Democrats and I are working day and

night to reach a solution and end this shutdown.

In the meantime, our office has created this guide to ensure that you have access to the

information that you need during this shutdown.

● Food Assistance Programs

● Small Business

● Immigration Services

● Travel

● Housing and Urban Development

● Healthcare and Social Services

● Veterans Affairs

● Taxes and IRS

GENERAL

Which federal departments are affected by the Trump Shutdown?

There are a handful of smaller impacted agencies as well, including:

Environmental Protection Agency, the Small Business Administration, and

NASA.

Six federal departments are already fully funded for 2019 and are not

affected by the Trump Shutdown: Defense, Veterans Affairs, Health and

Human Services, Education, Labor, and Energy.

How many federal employees have to work without pay during the

Trump Shutdown?

Will federal employees receive pay for furloughed days?

Yes, on January 16 a bill was signed that guarantees backpay to

furloughed federal workers not receiving paychecks during the Trump

shutdown. While that may provide some level of peace of mind to impacted

families it doesn’t alleviate the day to day burden of making hard choices

about food, childcare, medication or any other necessity.

Will federal contract employees receive pay for furloughed days?

This is an issue that I have been working tirelessly to address. I am an

original cosponsor of H.R. 339 the Low Wage Federal Contractor

contract employees receive backpay and leave benefits lost over the

shutdown.

FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

My family and I rely on food assistance programs like SNAP. Are

those programs still funded?

● In the short term, the following programs will continue operations, but

the situation may change depending on the length of the shutdown:

○ The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will

continue operations and eligible households will still receive

monthly benefits through February.

■ February benefits will be issued early between January

17th and 20th, ensuring that SNAP participants and those

■ For more information you can call the Boston-based

FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333 or visit

www.GettingSNAP.org

○ WIC (Women Children and Infants) benefits will continue at

least until February.

■ Massachusetts WIC is open for all eligible families to

Receive program benefits and services.

■ WIC food/formula benefits should continue to be

redeemed at all authorized retailers.

■ If you are a WIC participant you should keep your

appointment and continue your participation in the

program.

SMALL BUSINESS

What is the impact of the Trump Shutdown on small businesses?

● A shutdown halts federal loans to small businesses. During a

shutdown, the Small Business Administration stops approving

applications for small businesses to obtain loans and guarantees.

Businesses seeking SBA loans should contact their lender

immediately.

● A short-term government shutdown should not affect loans from the

Office of Disaster Assistance.

If I have an interview or appointment with U.S. Citizenship &

USCIS is fee-funded, so it remains open and continues to process

applications. You should attend interviews and appointments as

scheduled. Please call 1-800-375-5283 for additional information.

TRAVEL

Can I Travel from Boston Logan or other nearby airports?

● Yes, but air travel and security are impacted by the shutdown so

travelers should arrive early for any departures and prepare for

delays in clearing customs.

● Air traffic controllers are working without pay, and the Federal

I am planning to travel and need a passport. What should I expect?

● The U.S. Passport Agency remains open during the shutdown and

continues to issue passports. However, depending on where you live,

the State Department could curtail issuing passports where those

passport services are offered in buildings run by another agency that

is shut down.

● Although State Department operations may be closed, you should

confirm your appointment since the shutdown might impact the facility

housing a local passport agency.

● If you have a scheduled appointment at a U.S. Department of State

passport agency or center, please plan on keeping your appointment.

● If you need to cancel your appointment, you may do so by visiting the

your lender immediately.

● The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) urged mortgagees and

lenders to be sensitive to approved borrowers, which includes

on affected borrowers.

● FHA may have staff reductions during the shutdown; as a result,

there may be a delay processing FHA-insured loans. The length of

the shutdown will affect the severity of any delays.

● HUD has furloughed 95% of employees and will have a limited

number of employees to answer emergency questions during a

shutdown and will not be able to answer case specific questions.

● No. Most loss mitigation for homeowners facing foreclosure (including

FHA loan modifications, FHA-HAMP, etc.) will continue. You should

contact your lender, who will make the decision about foreclosures.

● Yes, existing Medicare patients can still see their health care

providers, and those providers will continue to submit bills and

● Most likely, yes. Congress fully funded the U.S. Department of

Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP). Will I continue to