How the Federal Government Shutdown Affects California Families and Children with Disabilities

What the 2025 Shutdown Means for California Families

On October 1, 2025, the federal government shut down after Congress failed to pass a spending bill for the new fiscal year. Many parents of children with disabilities are wondering what this means for their family’s essential care, benefits, and educational services.

At Galt Advocacy, we’re here to help you understand how this shutdown affects California programs and what to watch for in the coming weeks.

The Good News for California Families

Most services that support children with disabilities in California are state-run and continue to operate normally. The State of California remains open and funded, even while the federal government is partially closed.

Here’s what you can count on:

• IHSS payments and hours will continue
• Medi-Cal coverage remains active
• Regional Center services are not interrupted
• Mail delivery continues, ensuring benefit paperwork still arrives on time

These programs rely in part on federal Medicaid dollars, but because Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security are considered essential services, their funding continues even during a shutdown.

Will IHSS Be Affected by the Government Shutdown?

The In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program will continue during the federal government shutdown. IHSS is considered essential because it is funded through both federal Medicaid and the State of California, which remains open and operating.

Here’s what IHSS providers and recipients should know:

• Payments and authorized hours will continue without interruption
• Medi-Cal eligibility for IHSS recipients remains active
• County IHSS offices are open and processing timesheets as usual
• Electronic Services Portal (ESP) access and direct deposit functions remain available

If the shutdown continues for many weeks, there may be some slower communication or administrative processing times, but essential IHSS funding and services are not expected to stop.

If you are an IHSS provider or family caregiver and experience any issues with payments or paperwork, contact your county IHSS office or reach out to Galt Advocacy for support.

Where You Might See Delays

Department of Education (ED)

• About 87% of ED employees are currently furloughed, according to the agency’s draft plans.
• The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is not processing new disability-related complaints
• New special education grants and Part D applications are on hold until funding resumes

Families with active OCR complaints or new special education funding requests may experience longer wait times before issues are addressed.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

• About 32,000 employees are furloughed, according to Federal News Network.
• Essential Medicaid and Medicare operations are continuing
• Non-urgent activities, such as grant reviews or non-emergency investigations, may be delayed

Your child’s medical services, IHSS payments, and Medi-Cal coverage should remain steady, but communication with federal offices might take longer than usual.

Protection and Advocacy Organizations

Groups that rely on federal funding, including Disability Rights California, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and LEND, are continuing to operate for now.

• They likely have short-term funding to stay open
• If the shutdown lasts more than a few weeks, their capacity to accept new clients could become limited

If the Shutdown Lasts Several Weeks

If the shutdown continues for an extended period, the following ripple effects may occur:

• Delays in education funding could affect special education reimbursements to schools
• Grant-funded programs, such as resource centers or advocacy services, might temporarily reduce operations

If your family experiences service or payment delays, contact your Regional Center coordinator or Galt Advocacy for help. We can assist you in determining whether the issue is temporary or if you need to take action to protect your benefits.

Galt Advocacy’s Recommendations During the Government Shutdown

To stay prepared during the shutdown:

• Stay informed. Follow updates from the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and Department of Social Services (CDSS).
• Keep documentation. Save timesheets, benefit letters, and communications in case payments or authorizations are delayed.
• Stay connected with your advocate. Contact Galt Advocacy if your family experiences IHSS, Medi-Cal, or Regional Center issues.
• Monitor school services. Continue attending IEP meetings and document any disruptions to your child’s supports.

Staying Supported During the Shutdown

To date, the longest federal government shutdown was in 2018 and lasted for 35 days. At that time there was no interruption to support programs.

So for now, California families of children with disabilities can expect no interruption in critical programs such as IHSS, Medi-Cal, CalFresh, or CalWORKS. Essential benefits are still funded and operating.

If the shutdown continues, you may experience slower processing or communication, but your child’s care and supports should remain in place.

If you have questions, concerns, or need help navigating IHSS, Medi-Cal, or Regional Center services during this time, reach out to Galt Advocacy. Our team is here to guide you through any changes, advocate for your family’s rights, and ensure your child continues to receive the services and support they deserve.