Federal Government Shuts Down: What to know in Randolph County

ASHEBORO, N.C. (ACME NEWS) — The federal government has partially shut down overnight after law-makers failed to approve new funding. For Randolph County residents, that means some federal programs continue without interruption, while others could quickly be affected.

Food Assistance

SNAP benefits are safe for October. More than 22,000 residents here rely on Food and Nutrition Services, North Carolina’s name for SNAP. According to the Food Research & Action Center, October payments were already processed before the shutdown and will arrive as scheduled. The concern is November: if USDA does not act in time, benefits could be delayed 【FRAC, Sept. 27, 2025】.

WIC is more at risk. The National WIC Association warns that clinics in Asheboro and Archdale may only have enough funds to continue for a short time. Without new appropriations, services could start scaling back within a week 【Beaudoin & Scully, Sept. 30, 2025】. Families should continue to use benefits and keep scheduled appointments until told otherwise.

Social Security

Social Security checks and SSI disability payments will continue because they are paid from trust funds and mandatory appropriations. But field offices may scale back services. According to the Social Security Administration’s shutdown plan, nearly 12 percent of SSA’s national workforce — about 6,200 employees — will be furloughed. The remaining staff will focus on making sure payments go out on time and handling urgent benefit issues

That means Randolph County residents may face delays in:

Applications for new benefits and appeals
Replacement Social Security cards
Non-critical changes to SSI records, like updating addresses
Freedom of Information Act requests and overpayment processing

Services that will continue include:

Issuing and delivering monthly payments
Processing applications for terminally ill or dire-need disability cases
Critical IT support and fraud prevention

Medicare and Medicaid

The Department of Health and Human Services says Medicaid has enough funding to last through the first quarter of the new fiscal year. That means Medicare and Medicaid services will continue during the shutdown, but some services may move more slowly because of reduced staffing, such as the mailing of new Medicare cards.

States that qualify will also keep receiving money for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP.

FAFSA and Student Aid

The Department of Education says Pell Grants and Direct Loans will continue to be disbursed during the shutdown because they are funded through mandatory and advance appropriations. The FAFSA website remains open, and applications are still processed. Students at Randolph Community College and UNC Greensboro will continue receiving aid. However, some Department of Education staff are furloughed, which could slow new regulatory actions and customer service. Civil rights investigations are paused .

Mail, courts and airports

The Postal Service is not affected and will continue normal delivery.

Federal courts in the Middle District remain open for now but may scale back some civil work if the shutdown persists.

At Greensboro’s PTI Airport, TSA officers and air traffic controllers are still working without pay, which has caused delays during past shutdowns.

Farmers and rural services

Farmers who depend on the USDA Farm Service Agency office in Asheboro could feel the impact soon. During the 2018–2019 shutdown, FSA offices closed, briefly reopened with limited hours, then closed again. This shutdown is expected to follow a similar pattern, causing delays in loans and program sign-ups.

Parks & Forests

At Uwharrie National Forest, trails remain open but campgrounds, restrooms and visitor services may be closed or unstaffed. Visitors should prepare for reduced maintenance and pack out their own trash.