Shutdown Freezes US Climate Disaster Readiness Efforts

As of October 1st, 2025, the ongoing federal government shutdown is severely disrupting key US climate disaster preparedness efforts. The major source of flood insurance for millions of homeowners, the National Flood Insurance Program, has officially lapsed, with no new policies or renewals being issued. This is expected to have significant implications for current and prospective homeowners, potentially delaying real estate transactions within the nation's flood zones.

Meanwhile, the shutdown is hitting government offices across the country particularly hard, with nearly 90% of the Environmental Protection Agency's staff being furloughed. This has forced the EPA to pause critical research and publication, as well as the issuance of guidance, rules, and policies related to climate change. However, weather forecasting and monitoring will continue uninterrupted, allowing for the continued tracking of hurricane threats and wildfires to protect public safety.

Despite the sweeping impacts, the administration has threatened to fire "a lot" of workers rather than relying on temporary furloughs, further exacerbating the situation. Experts warn that with a global climate crisis and extreme weather events on the rise, the EPA workforce has never been more critical to the nation's preparedness efforts.