October 2025 update: With lawmakers failing to pass a funding bill by Sept. 30, the federal government shut down indefinitely at midnight on Oct. 1, in a move that will affect many departments including the VA.
The House adopted a short-term spending bill meant to extend funding for federal agencies through November, but the proposal failed to pass in the Senate.
This is the first government shutdown since December 2018, during Trump’s first presidential term.
What happens to my VA benefits if the government shuts down?
In a government shutdown, disability payments, pensions, and medical care will continue under the VA, as will other VA-sponsored benefits like education and housing assistance.
Although a shutdown will likely furlough some of the VA’s workers and close VA regional offices, the VA says “veterans will still be able to access their health care, benefits, and memorial services from the VA.”
A shutdown will, however, impact many of the VA’s public-facing services, such as career counseling, transition assistance for veterans leaving military service, and grounds maintenance of VA cemeteries. Cases before the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) and other courts will also cease in a shutdown.
During a government shutdown, federal agencies identify “essential” jobs, which are exempt from furloughs. Because of the VA’s duty to administer medical care and disability payments, most of the department’s employees fall into this essential category. During the most recent shutdown in 2018, 96% of VA employees continued working, compared to 5% of Department of Education employees, and 50% of Health and Human Services workers.
It is still not fully clear how many VA employees are deemed essential and will continue working in a 2025 government shutdown and how this would affect new claims or claims currently being adjudicated or appealed.
There are still concerns about the effect a closure could have on some of the VA’s processes. A federal report released after a 16-day shutdown in 2013 revealed that “weekly progress in reducing a backlog of veterans’ disability claims” was temporarily stalled. The same report states that certain veteran resources, including the education call center, hotlines, vocational rehabilitation, and educational counseling services were closed.
“If you were injured while serving this country and are reading this review, I encourage you to contact Woods & Woods right away. They are always standing ready to assist veterans in need.”
J.B., a Navy veteran in Virginia
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Neil Woods
Neil Woods is a VA disability attorney and the owner and president of Woods & Woods. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
