Early Wednesday morning, the federal government shut down because Congress could not reach an agreement to fund the government. While we do not know how long the shutdown will last, we want to be clear that Disability Rights California will continue to defend and advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. We are sharing resources for people with disabilities that have been put together by DRC’s policy experts. This page will continue to be updated as we learn more information.

Services that will continue during the shutdown:

• Medicare and Medicaid (Medi-Cal) benefits are continuing.
• Social Security payments, including SSI, are continuing.
• Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits are continuing, and VA centers and clinics remain operational.
• The US Postal Service is continuing to deliver mail.
• California Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) funding is continuing, but may be at risk of running out of funds if the shutdown extends past November.
• Unemployment payments are continuing.
• Federal housing assistance programs will continue for the time being but may be delayed if the government shutdown continues for a long time.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is still responding to emergencies.
• Federal student aid programs, including Pell Grants, and IDEA grant funding are continuing.

Services that are – or may be – impacted:

• Federal SNAP (CalFresh) benefits will be delayed in November, and only partially paid out.
  • California will use $80 million in emergency funds to support food bank food distribution and offset federal delays.
  • There also local resources, depending on where you live. For example:
    • San Francisco will issue pre-paid gift cards to SNAP recipients to cover the cost of November’s aid.
    • Los Angeles Unified School District will offer additional free meals to students.
• Customer service from the Social Security Administration is experiencing delays.
• Some programs for veterans are facing disruptions, including assistance to homeless veterans at regional offices.
• Head Start funding is delayed. Some Head Start programs – which provide education, childcare, health screenings, and healthy meals for children from birth to age 5 – will temporarily close without the needed funding.
• Certain immigration court cases may be delayed.
  • You can contact the immigration court that is hearing your case for more information on whether your case was delayed.
• Airports are experiencing delays due to a shortage of air traffic controllers.
• Many federal workers have gone without pay, and some have faced layoffs.
  • Layoffs have included gutting offices in the Department of Education critical for special education funding and resources.
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance ​Program payments are delayed in some regions.
• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will have to delay new clinical trials.
• National Parks and Smithsonian museums will face closures, determined on a site-by-site basis. Accessibility services at these sites will likely be impacted.
• Long-term disaster recovery projects through FEMA will be delayed.

Resources:

California Shutdown Resources:

• EdSource, California Head Start Programs face uncertainty as federal funds are paused (Oct. 31, 2025)
• Food
  • Find Food - California Association of Food Banks
  • California Department of Social Services
  • CalFresh Frequently Asked Questions (last updated Nov. 3, 2025)
  • WIC Services and Federal Budget Updates
  • H.R. 1 & CalFresh: Frequently Asked Questions (English, Spanish) (last updated Oct. 2, 2025)
  • San Francisco: CalFresh Emergency Grocery Card Program
  • Los Angeles Unified School District: Dinners from LAUSD Schools (last updated Oct. 31, 2025)
• Rep. Lateefah Simon, Resources for Californians Affected by the Government Shutdown (last updated Nov. 3, 2025)
• The Sacramento Bee, Here’s what stays open and available during a federal government shutdown (last updated Oct. 1, 2025)

National Shutdown Resources:

• AAPD (American Association of People with Disabilities), Explainer: What the Government Shutdown Means for SNAP, WIC, and Disability Programs (Oct. 27, 2025)
• AAPD, Explainer: What the Trump Administration’s Reduction-in-Force Means for People with Disabilities (Oct. 15, 2025)
• ASAN (Autistic Self Advocacy Network), Plain Language Explainer: The Government Shutdown (Oct. 22, 2025)
• DREDF (Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund), The Government Shutdown, What It Means for People with Disabilities and How You Can Stay Engaged (Oct. 10, 2025)
• National Housing Law Project, Do You Live in HUD or USDA Housing? Know Your Rights During the Government Shutdown (Oct. 31, 2025)
• National Housing Law Project, Rights of Federally Assisted Residents During the Government Shutdown (Oct. 3, 2025)
• National Housing Law Project, Tenants’ Rights During the Government Shutdown Flyer (Sept. 30, 2025)
• JDSupra, Closing in on Closing Down – Immigration Related Agencies and the Government Shutdown (Sept. 30, 2025)

What Federal Agencies Have Posted:

• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Contingency Planning
• U.S. Department of Education, Contingency Plan for Lapse in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Appropriations
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security (e.g., TSA), DHS Procedures Related to a Lapse in Appropriations
• U.S. National Park Service, Active Alerts in Parks