What You Need to Know About the Government Shutdown

Key Points

• Many federal government websites remain accessible during a shutdown, but staffing is reduced, so processing of reports, questions and follow-up may be delayed.
• If you have identity theft concerns or need help right away, contact the ITRC for free assistance.
• Be especially careful if someone contacts you claiming to be a government employee offering to “expedite” your benefits or services for a fee. That is a known scam tactic.
• If you cannot report identity theft with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), go to your local police department and file a report there to serve as proof of identity theft in recovery.
• If you need to report identity theft concerns through a government website (for example, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or Social Security Administration (SSA)), many online services are still accessible, but any process that requires staff intervention is likely delayed.
• During any period of government disruption, scammers often intensify their efforts; being vigilant and directly verifying who is asking for information matters.

What Happens During a Government Shutdown — and What It Means for You

When the federal government partially shuts down, many federal employees are placed on furlough (or work without pay until funding is restored). Although certain “essential” functions continue, many support services, helplines, processing centers and staff-assisted tasks slow or stop altogether.

This means:

• Many federal websites remain online and accessible (you can still log in to certain portals, check information and retrieve forms).
• However, staff who would normally answer calls, respond to questions, review submissions and follow up on cases may be absent or severely limited.
• If you submit something requiring human review, expect delays.

From an identity theft and fraud‐prevention standpoint, this creates two relevant risks:

• Delays in processing legitimate help requests or reports can give criminals extra time to exploit systems or mislead victims.
• Scammers may use the shutdown as a hook, claiming “we can still help you because the government is shut down” or “our company specialises in expediting your benefits during the shutdown” and then ask you to pay a fee or provide sensitive data.

Because of these risks, it’s important to keep your guard up, verify any contact, and if you need assistance with identity theft, fraud or a scam or recovery, consider reaching out to the ITRC directly. Our services are always free of charge to individuals.

Be Cautious of “Government Employee” Contact During a Shutdown

It’s common for identity thieves to pose as government officials or as vendors offering to help people secure or expedite their benefits. During a shutdown, such tactics may increase as people may be anxious about benefits, tax refunds or Social Security payments.

Here are red flags to watch for:

• A caller or email says they are from the IRS, SSA, SBA or another federal agency but asks for payment, often via gift card, wire transfer or crypto.
• They ask for sensitive data (Social Security number, bank account routing and account number, remote access to your computer) under the pretense of “expediting” government services.
• They claim you must act now because of the shutdown or you will lose benefits.
• They reference “expedited processing” or “government shutdown special procedures” and say only they can help you.

What you should do:

• Hang up or delete the email. Legitimate federal agencies will not call you unsolicited or demand payment via gift card or crypto to process benefits.
• Independently contact the federal agency using a phone number or web address you source yourself (not one provided in the suspicious call or email) to verify any claims.
• If you believe you’ve been contacted by a scammer, you can report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• If you are concerned about identity theft, contact the ITRC for help with the next steps.

Reporting Identity Theft When Federal Staff Are Limited

Under normal circumstances, the FTC directs identity theft victims to use IdentityTheft.gov — the one-stop site for reporting and recovery planning. The site allows you to create a personalised recovery plan, generate an identity theft report or affidavit and access sample letters and forms. 

However, if processing at the federal level is unavailable or delayed due to a shutdown or staff absence, you may encounter issues (e.g., slower responses, inability to upload documents, etc.).

If you can’t get timely processing through the FTC

If you are unable to file or complete the process via the FTC and IdentityTheft.gov because of a system delay or staffing shortfall, here’s what you should do:

• Go to your local police department (city, county or municipal) and file an identity theft report.
• Bring any documentation you have: notices from the government agencies or businesses, credit reports showing fraudulent activity, copies of emails or letters received.
• Once the police report is filed, you can use it as proof of identity theft when contacting businesses, credit bureaus, banks or government agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains that an identity theft report can be submitted to credit reporting companies to ask for the blocking of fraudulent info.
• After filing the police report, continue to monitor your credit reports, place fraud alerts or freeze your credit and reach out to the ITRC for free support.

Why this matters

Having a formal identity‐theft report is important because it:

• Serves as documentation when requesting a fraud alert or credit freeze;
• Helps you dispute fraudulent debts or accounts opened in your name;
• Provides proof when filing claims or seeking remediation with banks, credit bureaus or government agencies.

What if the Identity Theft Involves a Government Website (IRS, SSA, etc.)?

Even during a shutdown, many federal online services remain accessible. For example:

• The IRS still offers certain online tools and has guidance for tax-related identity theft, including Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) for affected individuals.
• The SSA provides FAQs on what to do if you suspect your Social Security number has been compromised.

What you need to know:

• You may still log in to IRS or SSA online accounts, monitor notices, view statuses and access available tools.
• But if something requires staff intervention (for example, manually verifying your identity, correcting records or coordinating benefits), that process may experience delays.
• It’s wise to act quickly: if you receive unexpected IRS or SSA notices (e.g., you didn’t earn the wages reported, you didn’t apply for certain benefits, your account shows unrecognised activity), take screenshots or print copies and start the resolution process.
• Document everything – communications, screenshots, notices – so you are ready if you need to escalate once government offices reopen fully.
• Contact ITRC for guidance on how to navigate the process and protect yourself while the government function is in partial standby mode.

Steps to Take During a Government Shutdown

While you wait out potential delays, here are actions you can take to protect your identity and financial well-being:

1. Monitor your accounts –Bank, credit cards, retirement, insurance, government benefit notices.
2. Check your credit reports – You are entitled to one free report per year from each of the major bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com.
3. Place a fraud alert or a credit freeze – A fraud alert makes it harder for someone to open new accounts in your name; a credit freeze prevents new credit entirely until you lift the freeze.
4. Secure your credentials – Update passwords, enable multi-factor authentication and minimise sharing of sensitive information (Social Security number, birth date, account numbers) unless absolutely necessary.
5. Be vigilant of scams – especially during disruptions like a shutdown: unsolicited calls and emails, threats of service interruption, claims of “special processing,” requests for payment to expedite services.
6. Contact the ITRC – If you suspect identity theft or are unsure what steps to take, you can reach ITRC’s free, confidential assistance.

Even if the government is slower than usual to respond, taking these actions now helps reduce the damage window and better positions you for recovery.

Bottom Line

A government shutdown doesn’t necessarily mean services vanish entirely, as many federal websites stay online and you may still access portals or self-service features. But because staff are limited, response times lengthen, follow-up is slower and scammers may exploit confusion.

Throughout this, the ITRC stands ready to help free of charge. If you need immediate assistance, guidance or a remediation plan, reach out to the ITRC. Take action early, stay alert, verify contacts and don’t let a shutdown become a vulnerability in your identity-protection strategy.