releases: https://web.archive.org/web/20131004205709/http://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/guide-to-the-government-shutdown-for-mainers
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://web.archive.org/web/20131004205709/http://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/guide-to-the-government-shutdown-for-mainers | Guide to the Government Shutdown for Mainers | 2013-10-01 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Independent | House | ME | Angus King | K000383 | web.archive.org | legacy | Guide to the Government Shutdown for Mainers Tuesday, October 1, 2013 What is a government shutdown? The U.S. Constitution requires that money is appropriated by Congress before it is actually spent. Since budget bills that appropriate money to fund much of the Federal Government have not been passed into law, many agencies cannot continue to operate and are shutdown. Some agencies will allow employees to perform their national security duties, and some will continue to operate because they are not funded through annual appropriations, but most will not. How may a government shutdown impact you? During a shutdown, the federal government is restricted to essential services that provide for the “safety of human life or protection of government property” which means the staff of many agencies are reduced to a minimum and could have an impact on you as a result. Here are examples of federal agencies that will affect Mainers: Social Security – The Social Security Administration anticipates furloughing around 18,000 employees. Checks for retirees and disability beneficiaries will continue as scheduled, as they are mandatory and funded indefinitely through trust funds. However, the reduced employee pool will mean that new applications for Social Security numbers and hearings for potential new disability beneficiaries will not be scheduled. Medicare – The Medicare Program will continue without disruption during a lapse in appropriations. Veterans Services – Veterans Hospitals will remain open and disability compensation will also be paid, although a host of other VA services will be impacted by the shutdown. For a comprehensive review of the effected services, click here. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits – SNAP benefits will continue to be dispersed through the month of October. Women, Infant and Children (WIC) Benefits – WIC offices will remain open and benefits will continue to be disbursed through the month. Visas and Passports – Visas and passports will be processed as usual, until the State Department runs out of funds to remain open because its services are sponsored by fees rather than Congressional appropriations. If, however, a government building that is subject to shutdown also houses a passport agency, then that agency will be subject to shutdown. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) – Walk-in IRS offices will be closed as well as Taxpayer Advocate office. Homeland Security – Most critical operations will continue as normal, although 14 percent of the 231,117 employees will not report to work. Border Patrol will continue operating, but the E-Verify program will cease. U.S. Citizenships & Immigration Services (USCIS) – USCIS will maintain 97 percent of its employees during the shutdown. Local offices will remain open, however, there may be delays in processing materials as support staff are unavailable, and other agencies which USCIS depends on, like the Department of Labor, are subject to shutdown. National Parks and Museums – All National Parks and museums across the country will close their doors, including Acadia. Small Business Administration – Approval for new small business loans backed by the agency would halt, including loan and grant programs. Small business mentorship programs will also shuttered, as well as programs helping disadvantaged businesses compete in the marketplace. The Affordable Care Act – The health insurance marketplace created by the health care reform law will still be running at www.healthcare.gov and through the call center at 1-800-300-5000. Navigators will still be working as well; Maine’s navigator, Western Maine Community Action, can be reached at 1-800-645-9636. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |