Furloughed Workers: How to Survive a Shutdown

As the current government shutdown stretches on, more than 750,000 furloughed federal workers are feeling the crunch—struggling to pay bills, keep up with everyday expenses, and manage deep financial uncertainty with no paycheck in sight. If you’re navigating this situation (or know someone who is), the advice from financial professionals can make a real difference in how you weather the storm

As I shared with Money for their article, “When paychecks stop, the first rule is triage: prioritize the essentials.” The top of your list should always be home and health—making sure you maintain shelter, utilities, insurance, and basic medical needs. As I cautioned, “Cut everything nonessential” and, if necessary, consider deferring payments on bills not tied to survival, like credit cards or streaming services. Hits to your credit or non-vital services can be repaired later, but “recovering from lost shelter or insurance is much harder.”

If you’re considering using credit cards to float expenses, be selective: as I advised in the article, only put absolute necessities on credit. “Avoid racking up balances for things you don’t need right now... limit charges so you won’t be overwhelmed by repayments” once backpay arrives. And if you must tap other resources—like a TSP loan—do so with caution and be aware of the long-term impact on your retirement savings.

Crucially, don’t wait passively for relief. Be proactive: “Get ahead of the problem by proactively calling every biller and lender, even before you miss a payment,” I recommended. Major creditors, landlords, and mortgage lenders may offer flexibility or hardship programs, and some banks have even pledged not to penalize missed payments or will freeze credit reporting for federal employees affected by the shutdown.

Finally, don’t forget about community support and assistance programs. Tap tools like My Fed Benefits or reach out to local organizations—help is often available, but you have to ask for it.

Bottom line:

A government shutdown is never fair to federal employees or their families, but you can protect your core financial foundation by focusing first on the essentials, being deliberate about what (and when) you pay, and communicating early and often with creditors. As I noted for Money, your credit can be rebuilt—but losing your home or health coverage is much harder to recover from. Take care of what matters most, ask for help, and remember: you’re not alone.