9-29-2023 11:08am

Guide to impact of Government Shutdown by Gabe Vasquez

Chris Edwards Editor

In a statement from Congressional Leader Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico District 2 he issued a statement on how services will be impacted locally with a planned government shutdown so to the Republican controlled house inability to compromise on a go forward budget plan.

“The government is set to shut down tomorrow at midnight. I wanted to share some resources with you and to check-in.

To find out how the shutdown may affect you and your family, you can check out my FAQ page or call my office at 202-225-2365.

I am focused on delivering for New Mexico. We need less nonsense and more common sense in Congress so that hard working families, veterans and seniors don’t face the consequences of far-right Republican policies that are shutting down the government.

Service members will be forced to work without pay, and depending on how long the shutdown lasts, it could cost the American economy $6 BILLION a week.

We need to put politics aside and ensure New Mexicans get paid and are able to access critical services.

You can stay up to date on how I’m serving you by following me on social media @RepGabeVasquez on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To get help or learn more about me, visit vasquez.house.gov.

Please know that I am working to restore funding for the federal government. In addition, my offices in Washington, DC, Las Cruces, and Albuquerque will remain open during regular business hours and continue to provide the best service possible to my constituents.

Below, you can find information about the effects of a temporary government shutdown. This page will be periodically updated as new information becomes available. Please keep in mind that information may change as agencies adapt to the lapse in funding….”

Social Security

Social Security beneficiaries will continue to receive benefits, because Social Security is considered a mandatory program not funded by shorter-term appropriation bills passed by Congress.
However, new claims, new Social Security cards, change of address petitions, and other such customer service requests may experience delays.

Medicare

Since Medicare claims are paid from Medicare trust funds, Medicare will continue as normal.
However, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will be unable to issue Medicare replacement cards and could possibly slow new enrollment processing.

Veterans

All VA medical facilities and clinics will remain open. They will also continue processing and paying veterans’ education and health benefits, disability compensation, and pension claims.
Unfortunately, VA call centers and hotlines (besides the Veterans Crisis Line) will cease; decisions on claims appeals will stop.

Unemployment Benefits

The State of New Mexico will continue to disburse federal unemployment benefits, so benefits should continue. For more information, please visit https://www.dws.state.nm.us/.

United States Postal Service

Since the U.S. Postal Service is not funded by tax dollars and relies on the sale of postage and services, it will continue to operate. All retail offices will remain open and delivery will not be affected.
The Postal Service will continue to accept passport applications, however there may be a delay because they will need to be processed by the State Department.

Military Pay

Military personnel will continue to report for duty.
However, if the shutdown continues through the next payday, then payments will be delayed.
Many military contractors and civilian employees could experience disruptions to their work and pay. For more information, please consult with the contracting agency.

Federal Employees and Retirees

Under a government shutdown all non-essential federal employees are placed on unpaid leave, also known as a furlough. However, essential employees that perform emergency work involving the safety of human life, the protection of property, or other exempted work, must continue to report to their job. Essential employees will not be paid unless Congress appropriates money for back pay after government funding is restored.
Each federal agency will determine which employees will be furloughed, and which must continue to report to work. Furloughs are expected to impact the services that agencies provide to the public. For more details please visit the Office of Personnel Management’s website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/furlough-guidance/.
After government funding is restored, Congress may appropriate money for back pay for essential employees.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Child Nutrition Programs (CNP)

SNAP and CNP will continue while funds are still available.
At the moment, funds are predicted to be available until the end of October. Should the government shutdown last past the end of October, these benefits may run out. The State of New Mexico may be able to use leftover federal resources to fund these programs.

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

The vast majority of WIC recipients will see benefits immediately cut off. This is because WIC is administered by USDA which can’t provide these benefits during a shutdown.

National Parks & Museums

New Mexico is home to 18 national parks that are at risk of closing–hurting local economies and ruining family travel plans. Services within the parks such as campgrounds and concessions will close, and the parks themselves may close. Carlsbad Caverns is expected to celebrate their 100th anniversary this October, and the shutdown may affect this.
The Capitol Tours, White House, Library of Congress, Supreme Court, and FBI tours will be suspended and their buildings will be closed to the public.

Passports and Visas

The State Department will continue to process passport applications and visa requests as long as funding and the collection of fees allows. However, delayed processing times are expected.
Additionally, our office will be unable to assist constituents with expediting passport and visa requests for the duration of the shutdown.

Student Loans

Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans can continue to be obligated and make disbursement during a shutdown, but only as long as carryover and mandatory appropriations last. However, department staff needed to carry out and support these functions are significantly reduced.

I have an issue with a government agency, can I still call them for help? Can you help me instead?

Due to the lapse in funding, many agencies have furloughed workers so their help desks may have little or no staffing. You are encouraged to contact any agency to learn if they are still able to assist you at this time. You can also contact my office to open a case for you. We can contact an agency on your behalf and provide you with updates if they are open or when they reopen at the conclusion of a shutdown.

Additional Resources

If you have additional questions, please feel free to reach out to the office of Congressman Gabe Vasquez in Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-2365 or his Las Cruces office at (575) 323-6390 and they will do our best to assist you.