Is mail still delivered during a government shutdown? What to know in Washington
If you have questions about the federal government shutdown, you’re not alone.
People across the country took to the internet Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 — as the shutdown loomed and went into effect amid a funding battle — to search for information, according to Google Trends.
Some may have been wondering how long the shutdown will last, or what caused it, or which day-to-day government services — like mail delivery, for example — might be affected.
While much around the shutdown remains to be seen, the mail question, at least, has a simple answer.
Here’s what you need to know about mail service in Washington during the government shutdown:
Will the government shutdown affect mail delivery in Washington?
No, the government shutdown won’t prevent you from getting or sending mail.
In a statement Sept. 25, ahead of the shutdown, the U.S. Postal Service said its “operations will not be interrupted in the event of a government shutdown, and all post offices will remain open for business as usual.”
That’s because the agency, which processed and delivered more than 371 million pieces of mail a day on average last year, is “an independent entity that is generally funded through the sale of our products and services, and not by tax dollars.”
How can I find out about mail disruptions in the U.S.?
The postal service has a spot on its website where customers can keep tabs on service disruptions caused by things like weather issues or special events. The agency also publishes a list of postal service holidays.
This story was originally published October 1, 2025 at 2:16 PM.
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