Federal Newscast

More resources are popping up for federal employees during the shutdown

The offerings come as hundreds of thousands of federal employees face missed paychecks for the foreseeable future.

Michele Sandiford

October 17, 2025 10:57 am

< a min read

More resources for federal employees during the shutdown are continuing to pop up. Several credit unions are offering no-fee loans to furloughed federal employees. Local food banks are offering options for those who may need it. And feds who have been laid off this year can also get a $2,000 loan with no fees and no interest from the Federal Employees Education and Assistance Fund. The offerings come as hundreds of thousands of federal employees face missed paychecks for the foreseeable future. Civilian feds received a partial paycheck late last week. It will be their last payday until the shutdown ends.
(Shutdown resources for federal civilian employees - Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund)

The Trump administration’s federal workforce cuts appear to be impacting even more Americans. New survey data from the Partnership for Public Service shows a 17% increase over the last six months of individuals who are personally aware of the reductions across government. In a September survey of 1,000 Americans, nearly half said the administration’s cuts have impacted them or someone they know. That’s compared to less than a third who said the same in a poll that the Partnership conducted back in March. The new data was released before the shutdown, which has brought even more reductions in force than before.
(New data report on Trump administration’s federal workforce cuts - Partnership for Public Service)

The commander of U.S. Southern Command is stepping down. Adm. Alvin Holsey made the surprise announcement yesterday. The military’s top officer for Latin America had reportedly voiced concerns about the Pentagon’s recent uses of force against alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean. In a post on social media, Holsey said his retirement will be take effect in December.
(Commander of U.S. Southern Commander is stepping down - U.S. Southern Command)

The Trump administration is taking some extraordinary measures to keep certain law enforcement personnel from missing a paycheck. FBI Director Kash Patel said the Trump administration has taken steps to ensure that the bureau’s special agents will be paid during the shutdown. The FBI has more than 13,200 special agents. According to the Justice Department’s updated contingency plans, all of the FBI’s nearly 37,000 employees are “excepted” during a shutdown, meaning they work without being paid on time, but will receive back pay once the shutdown ends.
(‘Budgetary Twister:’ Trump administration pushes limits to pay federal law enforcement amid shutdown - Federal News Network)

The Defense Department is reassuring vendors that it will pay them when the partial government shutdown ends if it awards a new contract or modifies an existing one. The Defense Pricing, Contracting and Acquisition Policy office issued a deviation to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations detailing a new clause that contracting officers should include in contracts going forward that rely on future funding. DoD said when appropriated funds become available, it will make payment including any interest required under the Prompt Payment Act.
(DoD DFARs deviation guarantees payments to contractors - Defense Department)

Federal contractor concerns grow as the shutdown continues. Some federal contractors are implementing “austerity measures” to help reduce the impact of the partial government shutdown on their bottom line. Leidos, for example, has asked all indirect employees — those not directly related to a contract like bid and proposal managers, public affairs and even corporate vice presidents — to reduce the number of hours they work a week to 32 and use vacation to make up for the other eight hours. Executives at other vendors say they are asking employees to use vacation or take training to avoid layoffs. But if the lapse in government funding continues into November, layoffs likely will be required.
(Vendors starting to take shutdown related austerity measures - Federal News Network)

A watchdog that investigates workplace discrimination has regained a quorum. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission can once again act on rulemaking and guidance, as well as major litigation, now that the Senate has confirmed Brittany Panuccio, one of Trump’s picks to help lead the agency. EEOC has been without a quorum since January after President Trump removed two Democratic commissioners. The agency has been able to carry out day-to-day investigations without a quorum.
(Senate Restores EEOC Quorum - Proskauer )

The Energy Department said it’s issuing $1.6 billion worth of loan guarantees aimed at upgrading transmission lines across the Midwest. The guarantees are meant to help meet the surge of power demands from data centers and artificial intelligence. The lines will be run by grid operator AEP Transmission, which said it will use the money to upgrade infrastructure Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma and West Virginia. The project will cover 5,000 miles worth of transmission lines.
(Energy Department to issue loan guarantees to upgrade Midwest transmission lines - Associated Press)