As the federal government shutdown continues into its fifth week, multiple Penn groups and services that interface with the federal government are closely following the situation.
The shutdown entered its 36th day on Nov. 5, marking the longest lapse of federal agency activity in United States history. Several Penn programs — including Penn Abroad, International Student and Scholar Services, and select services at Penn Medicine — are monitoring potential disruptions from the shutdown.
In a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian, Penn Abroad Executive Director Kristyn Palmiotto wrote that a “prolonged government shutdown” can cause processing delays for students who need “official documentation — such as U.S. passports or visas to enter the country.”
“This affects both U.S. citizens needing passports or renewals for global programs and international exchange students coming to Penn who are seeking U.S. visas for study here for a semester or year,” Palmiotto wrote.
She also emphasized that Penn Abroad’s annual “passport drive” — which aids students in applying for new adult U.S. passports — has been “directly impacted” by the shutdown.
Penn Abroad planned to host this year’s drive on Oct. 29, but has postponed it to Nov. 12 due to the shutdown.
“During a government shutdown, federal agencies are unable to participate in outreach events like ours,” Palmiotto wrote. “If the shutdown continues through this week, we will unfortunately need to cancel the event.”
To supplement the services Penn normally offers, Penn Abroad has allocated funding toward an alternative option for students to travel to the Philadelphia Passport Agency to apply in person.
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Palmiotto noted, though, that “this option introduces additional logistical challenges and lacks the convenience and support of our on-campus event.”
The shutdown may also impact Penn’s ability to provide immigration resources and facilitate visa applications and overseas travel, according to guidance from Penn ISSS issued on Sept. 30.
The update highlighted that the shutdown would “have an impact on crucial immigration services,” including application processing times and operations through the Department of Labor.
In a Oct. 30 statement to the DP, ISSS Executive Director Rudie Altamirano wrote that his recommendations “have not changed” since the September announcement.
“ISSS continues to provide guidance to international students and scholars based on current U.S. government policies,” Altamirano added. “We have not seen any widespread issues with specific visa types related to the shutdown. International students and scholars are maintaining their status and continuing their studies and research.”
ISSS and partner offices serve as Penn’s “internal support services” that “assist students and scholars in navigating” various federal processes, Altimarano wrote.
“These services are currently operating as usual to the extent possible,” he added. “We encourage students to reach out with questions and continue to monitor federal updates closely.”
Penn Medicine has similarly continued to provide services, including virtual health care to Medicare patients, despite the shutdown.
On Sept. 30, the Medicare waivers for telehealth services expired, limiting where and when patients can receive online healthcare. In response, Penn Medicine will temporarily suspend billing as the health system awaits a new budget deal to reinstate approval waivers.
Temporary telehealth waivers were first instituted during the COVID-19 pandemic to serve as relaxed telehealth requirements for patients. They have remained popular since, especially in mental health care and for recurring routine screenings from healthcare providers.
