On the Ground Report: Federal Impacts in North Dakota
By: Prairie Action North Dakota Institute
October 3, 2025
A federal shutdown has begun after Congress failed to reach a funding deal. Social Security and Medicaid continue, but North Dakotans will feel real impacts.
Federal Services & Programs
Social Security & Medicaid: Payments continue, but new cards, benefit verification, and other services may be delayed.
State agencies: Many rely on federal funding. For example, the ND Department of Environmental Quality gets 40–45% of its budget from the EPA. If delays stretch, services could slow or stop.
Transportation & VA Services: Fargo’s VA medical staff will continue serving veterans, but administrative staff may be furloughed. Transportation programs could also be disrupted.
Community Impacts
Theodore Roosevelt National Park: May close or remain open with limited staff and reduced services. Past shutdowns left parks vulnerable to vandalism and unsafe conditions.
Workers & Families: Federal employees deemed “essential” must keep working without pay until the shutdown ends, while “non-essential” workers face furlough. This puts pressure on household budgets and local economies.
Healthcare Access: With debates tied to health care funding, rural hospitals and 35,000 North Dakotans who rely on Affordable Care Act tax credits face uncertainty.
Local Voices
Leaders across the state stress that a shutdown isn’t just politics, it has “real and immediate consequences” for families, veterans, farmers and rural communities.
Experts note that the longer a shutdown drags on, the deeper the impacts: furloughs grow, services are cut back, and health care and transportation systems become less stable.
Why It Matters for North Dakota
Rural Communities: Depend heavily on federal programs for healthcare, farming, and transportation.
Veterans: Medical care continues, but support services could be disrupted.
Everyday Life: From delayed environmental oversight to reduced park access, families across the state feel the effects.
