During the 2018/2019 35-day government shutdown, most impacted federal employees missed two paychecks, roughly the equivalent of one month's pay. Image: MichaelHahn/Shutterstock.com
By: Tiffany Bednar, COO | PartnerAs the federal fiscal year ended on September 30, the long-feared government shutdown officially began on October 1, 2025, casting uncertainty across Washington, D.C., and the broader federal workforce. Without a budget or continuing resolution in place, funding has lapsed, triggering a shutdown as of 12:00 a.m. on that date. Each year, Congress must pass appropriations measures to sustain discretionary programs, which include everything from national defense and public education to the day-to-day operations of government agencies. The failure to meet this deadline has once again resulted in significant disruptions to public services. For federal employees, the cycle of brinkmanship continues to carry both financial risk and emotional toll, reinforcing the need for careful preparation and long-term solutions.
The Reality of Government Shutdowns: A Look Back at the Data
A government shutdown occurs when funding for certain federal agencies or programs lapses due to a failure by the President and Congress to agree on full-year or interim appropriations. While historically more common in the late 1970s and 1980s, recent shutdowns have stretched longer. The longest federal government shutdown on record lasted 35 days, from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019. Other significant shutdowns include 21 days in FY1996 and 16 days in FY2014.
During these periods, federal employees whose work is funded by annual appropriations and is not deemed “excepted” are placed on “shutdown furlough”—a temporary nonduty, nonpay status. “Excepted” employees, whose work involves the safety of human life, protection of property, or other legally authorized activities, continue to report to duty but also face delayed pay.
The financial impact on federal workers has been severe:
- During the 2018-19 shutdown, approximately 800,000 federal workers went without paychecks.
- A Prudential survey conducted shortly after that shutdown revealed that 83% of respondents reported an uptick in overall stress levels, with 50% feeling “much more stressed”.
- Nearly half (49%) fell behind on their bills, and 27% missed a mortgage or rent payment.
- Alarmingly, 26% dipped into their retirement accounts to cover expenses, and 42% took on new debt.
The wider economic repercussions are also significant, with JPMorgan estimating the U.S. economy lost more than $1.5 billion a week during the 2019 shutdown. The shutdown resulted in approximately $2.6 billion in delayed pay for furloughed employees.
Beyond immediate financial strain, shutdowns prompt many federal employees to re-evaluate their careers. During the 2018-19 shutdown, job-opening page views from government employees working for unfunded agencies surged on Indeed.com. LinkedIn reported a 59% increase in government workers indicating they were open to new jobs, and a ZipRecruiter survey found 67% of federal workers considered leaving government employment due to the shutdown. Post-shutdown, 34% of survey respondents reported the federal worker in their household was actively looking for a job outside the federal government, and another 35% were considering it.
Back Pay and Benefits: What’s Guaranteed?
While the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 ensures that both furloughed and excepted federal employees will receive retroactive pay for the period of a covered lapse in appropriations, these payments are made “at the earliest date possible after the lapse in appropriations ends, regardless of scheduled pay dates”. This means paychecks can still be significantly delayed, causing immediate hardship. In fact, during the 2018/2019 35-day government shutdown, most impacted federal employees missed two paychecks, roughly the equivalent of one month’s pay.
Most federal employee benefits, such as Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) and Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), continue during a shutdown, with accumulated premiums withheld from retroactive pay. However, other benefits like Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAFEDS) may see deductions halted, and reimbursements delayed until normal pay resumes. The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) generally allows financial hardship in-service withdrawals and special loan options during shutdowns, though these come with restrictions.
Introducing PayAssure: A Solution for Payroll Protection
In light of these persistent challenges, private initiatives are emerging to help federal employees mitigate the financial risks of a shutdown. One such solution is PayAssure from Federal Holdings, described as a comprehensive payroll protection plan designed to ensure the continuity of take-home pay during government shutdowns.
Here’s how PayAssure will work:
- Pre-Registration: Federal employees pre-register to secure their participation at the launch of the plan. During the pre-registration period, they are not required to provide payment. This process ensures that their place is reserved for initial access upon launch and enables accurate assessment of demand to support an orderly enrollment process.
- Automatic Deposits: Once the platform goes live, in the event of a shutdown, PayAssure automatically deposits payroll replacement funds into plan members’ bank accounts after each missed paycheck.
- Seamless Redemption: Once the shutdown ends and government back pay is released, these funds are transferred directly from government payroll centers to Federal Holdings, making the plan members “whole” without further hassle.
The company states that this plan provides “no hassle, no missed paychecks, no hardships and no financial hangover”. For an annual salary of $85,000, the plan is advertised at less than thirty cents a day.
Prepare for the Future
The reality of shutdowns remains a significant concern for federal employees. While legislation like the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act helps ensure eventual back pay, the immediate financial disruption is once again a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by public servants. As the October 1, 2025 shutdown unfolds, exploring proactive solutions like PayAssure could offer federal workers a vital layer of financial security and peace of mind in an uncertain environment.
PayAssure is a service of Federal Holdings, bringing together experts in the financial and governmental sectors to develop and offer unique, targeted products that provide federal workers and their families with financial stability.
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