Following the federal government’s failure to pass a budget, leading to a shutdown starting Sept. 30, 2025, Long Beach city officials have been quick to address concerns about how this might impact local services. In a message reassuring residents, the city officials declared that most of the municipal services they rely upon will continue to run as usual. The statement obtained by the Official City of Long Beach guaranteed the smooth operation of essential services, including police, fire, and emergency services, as well as public health, refuse collection, and more.
Residents can breathe a sigh of relief, as the local government will remain open and operational. This means street sweeping, road maintenance, public library services, and parks and recreation activities will continue without disruption. The city officials were wary, given that the federal shutdown does not affect the day-to-day services, that a prolonged absence of federal funding could start to affect housing assistance, nutrition programs, and other federal partnerships that underpin our social safety net.
The city’s direct federal essential services like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid will remain operational, as will the U.S. Postal Service and Veterans Administration. Long Beach Airport (LGB) is also maintaining business as usual. Despite air traffic controllers and TSA officers going unpaid, they’re considered essential staff and will keep on working, sustaining safety for travelers with minimal early impacts to operations. Nevertheless, should the shutdown drag on indefinitely, passengers were warned that they, noticed by minor delays may not have been due to the increased wait times, might also start to occur. The city advocates for travelers to check flight statuses with airlines before heading to the airport.
The City of Long Beach is pushing for a swift resolution, urgently pleading with federal leaders to finalize on a budget or a continuing resolution. They stress the importance of this action to safeguard essential services and ensure a stable environment moving forward. Community members are also being encouraged by the city to join in the call for action by reaching out to their representatives, like Senator Alex Padilla, Senator Adam Schiff, Congressmember Robert Garcia, and Congresswoman Nanette Barragán, and demanding that a federal spending budget be passed as soon as possible. The city assures that, despite the temporary pause on federal operations, it will remain steadfast in its commitment to serve the community without interruption.
