Support for Utah Veterans During the Government Shutdown

As you may know, the federal government entered a shutdown at midnight on October 1 after the Senate failed to act on a clean, bipartisan bill to keep the government open through November 21.

I voted to prevent this shutdown and make sure our servicemembers, veterans, and hardworking Utah families continue to receive the support they deserve.

My team will continue working to support Utahns during this unnecessary and harmful shutdown.

What’s Open for Veterans

• VA Medical Centers, Outpatient Clinics, and Vet Centers remain open and continue providing care and counseling.
• VA benefits—including compensation, pension, education, and housing—will continue to be processed and paid.
• Burials at VA national cemeteries will continue, along with applications for headstones, markers, and burial benefits.
• The Board of Veterans’ Appeals continues issuing decisions on pending cases.
• The Veterans Crisis Line (Dial 988, Press 1) and the MyVA411 Contact Center (1-800-698-2411) are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Suicide prevention programs, homelessness services, and caregiver support will remain operational.

What’s Paused or Delayed

• Transition assistance and career counseling programs are temporarily on hold.
• The GI Bill Hotline (1-888-GIBILL-1) and National Cemetery Applicant Assistance Hotline (1-800-697-6947) are closed until funding resumes.
• VA regional benefits offices are closed, which may delay new claims or appeals requiring in-person support.
• Public affairs and veteran outreach efforts—including VetResources emails and social media updates from VA Central Office—are paused.

We’re Here to Help 

Even during a shutdown, Team Owens is still working for you. Even during the shutdown, my offices remain open and ready to serve Utah’s veterans.

If you or a loved one are experiencing delays with benefits, health care, or other federal programs, please reach out to my team by calling 801-999-9801 or visiting Owens.House.Gov. If you’d like to attend one of my team’s upcoming Mobile Offices, the full schedule is available here. 

We invite you to visit owens.house.gov/shutdown for updates and agency-specific resources, which we will update daily as more information becomes available. 

Utah is home to thousands of men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform with honor. Please know that I am committed to making sure you receive the care and benefits you’ve earned, and to ending this unnecessary shutdown as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your service.