Supporting Federal Employees Through the Shutdown: A Resource Guide from Southworth PC
Oct 27, 2025
At Southworth PC, our mission is clear: protect the rights and careers of federal employees. As the government funding lapse continues—affecting paychecks, benefits, mission-critical work and workplace morale—we want to offer more than legal representation. We want to provide practical help and trusted guidance through this disruption.
This post compiles the most important, clickable resources available right now for federal employees affected by the shutdown. Bookmark this page, share it with colleagues, and check back as situations evolve.
Why this matters for you
- Paychecks & benefits are disrupted for many federal employees—in some cases first-time lags in decades.
- Mission and safety roles are under strain, and if you’re an excepted employee or working without pay, the operational risk is real.
- Legal rights still apply, but the landscape is uncertain; you must document, ask for written guidance, and protect your status.
- Southworth PC is here not only as lawyers defending rights, but as advocates for fairness, clarity, and your long-term career stability.
Clickable Resource Table — Ordered by Usefulness
| # | Resource (clickable) | What it provides |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FEEA – Government Shutdown Resources — https://feea.org/shutdown/ | Micro-grants (shutdown assistance), emergency hardship loan info, and a curated list of national and regional resources for furloughed or excepted federal employees. |
| 2 | Partnership for Public Service — FedSupport / Shutdown Assistance Map — https://ourpublicservice.org/shutdown/resources-for-federal-employees/ | Interactive Shutdown Assistance Map (SAM) and a centralized hub of local and national offers (financial help, food, utilities, transportation). Searchable and filterable by location. |
| 3 | AFL-CIO — State Resources for Impacted Federal Workers — https://aflcio.org/about-us/programs/shutdown-resources-25 | State-by-state guidance on applying for unemployment insurance (UI), links to local services (2-1-1), and practical notes on payback obligations if Congress later authorizes retroactive pay. |
| 4 | OPM — Furlough Guidance & FAQs — https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/furlough-guidance/ (and the PDF: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/furlough-guidance/guidance-for-shutdown-furloug…) | Official federal HR guidance on furloughs and excepted status, pay and benefit treatment, sample notices, and procedural rules agencies should follow. Foundational for documenting your rights. |
| 5 | OMB — Shutdown FAQs (White House / OMB) — (PDF/FAQ posted at) Frequently Asked Questions During a Lapse in Appropriations | OMB’s official Frequently Asked Questions addressing operational policies, pay handling, travel, and administrative issues during the lapse. Useful for agency-level operational questions. |
| 6 | DOL — Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) — https://oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/unemcomp.asp | Department of Labor guidance on how furloughed federal employees apply for UI (state filing process), documentation required, and links to state unemployment agencies. |
| 7 | Credit Unions & Banks — Relief Programs (sample pages): Navy Federal — Government Shutdown Assistance | Navy Federal Credit Union ; USAA — Government Shutdown Program | USAA ; U.S. Senate FCU — https://www.ussfcu.org/ ; Congressional FCU — https://www.congressionalfcu.org/ ; PenFed — Furlough Relief Assistance | Many credit unions and banks are offering 0% interest or no-interest “furlough” loans, deferred payments, fee waivers, and other relief to help bridge missed paychecks. Eligibility varies — contact your financial institution immediately. |
| 8 | Feeding America — Local Food Bank Finder — https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank | Find nearby food banks and pantry resources (immediate food assistance while paychecks are delayed). |
| 9 | United Way — 2-1-1 Helpline — https://www.211.org/ or dial 211 | A free referral helpline that connects callers to local services (food, housing, utility assistance). Highly effective for localized help. |
| 10 | Union Plus — Layoff / Furlough Assistance — https://unionplus.org/benefits/money/layoff-or-furlough-assistance | Grants, mortgage and loan help, counseling, and other supports for union members impacted by furloughs. |
| 11 | National Diaper Bank Network — Find a Diaper Bank — National Diaper Bank Network | Locate diaper banks and family supplies for households with infants/young children. |
| 12 | Local & State Programs (examples): Maryland Federal Worker Emergency Loan — Maryland Dept. of Labor (search: Maryland federal worker emergency loan program) — https://www.dllr.state.md.us/ or county sites such as Alexandria, VA (https://www.alexandriava.gov/) and Fairfax County assistance pages (Federal Government Shutdown Impacts and Resources | News Center) | Many states and localities (especially the DC region) have emergency loan, fee-waiver, and support programs specific to federal workers. Check your state/county website or call 2-1-1. |
| 13 | Military Relief Societies & Service-Specific Funds — Army Emergency Relief: https://www.armyemergencyrelief.org/ ; Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society: https://www.nmcrs.org/ ; Air Force Aid Society: https://afas.org/ ; Coast Guard Mutual Assistance: https://www.cgmahq.org/ | For DoD personnel and many civilian employees tied to military communities, service relief societies offer interest-free loans and emergency assistance targeted to service members & families. |
| 14 | Crowdsourced & Volunteer Lists (live spreadsheets / Slack groups) — Example: Shutdown Assistance Map / crowdsourced Google Sheets (search for “shutdown assistance spreadsheet federal employees”) — (example mirror) https://myfedbenefitshelp.com/shutdown-assistance-map/ | Grassroots, volunteer-maintained collections of offers, local events, and community initiatives. Use with caution (verify legitimacy), but extremely useful for local, immediate help. |
| 15 | Nonprofit Legal & Advocacy Groups — Partnership for Public Service updates: https://ourpublicservice.org/fed-figures/how-the-federal-workforce-is-impacted-during-a-government-… ; Professional Associations (PASS): https://www.passnational.org/870 | Policy updates, advocacy, and legal context about back pay, RIF risks, and the broader effects of the shutdown. Good for staying informed about legislative fixes or new guidance. |
Practical Steps You Can Take Right Now
- Document everything. Save LES statements, agency notices, emails about your status, and any written instructions. If you’re excepted and working, record your hours. If furloughed, save the furlough notice. Documentation is critical for back pay, unemployment claims, and legal challenges.
- Ask for written clarification. If a supervisor or HR rep gives verbal guidance about pay, allowances, or duties, request it in writing. If you’re overseas, ask for formal letters to show landlords or creditors.
- Use immediate relief options. Contact credit unions and USAA (links above) about furlough loans or hardship programs; use Feeding America/2-1-1 to find food assistance. If you’re a union member, check Union Plus grants.
- State UI if furloughed. File for unemployment in your state (DOL/UCFE link above) — but understand you may have to repay UI once back pay arrives. Save records of any UI you receive.
- Protect your clearance and legal rights. Don’t take outside employment that conflicts with your clearance or violates SOFA rules if overseas. Consult agency counsel or Southworth PC before taking any action that might affect your federal employment status.
- Safety and mission concerns. If staffing or fatigue threatens safety (ATC, TSA, CBP, DoD), report immediately through safety channels and document the risk in writing. Your safety obligations and protections matter.
How Southworth PC Can Help
We built our practice solely to serve federal employees. We understand MSPB deadlines, OSC protections, FERS/FEHB implications, and the unique constraints of overseas employment and SOFA rules. If the shutdown is causing you legal or career risk—conflicting orders, threatened RIF action, unclear pay or benefits—reach out for a free initial consultation.
Contact us: Toll-free: 866-333-0120
Request a consult: https://www.attorneysforfederalemployees.com/ (or use the contact form on our Southworth PC site).
Final Note
The shutdown is not just a budget fight — it is a disruption with real human costs for federal employees and their families. Use the resources above. Share this page with coworkers. If you need legal help or confidential guidance on any employment action or risk, Southworth PC is here for you.
We’ve got your back.
— The Team at Southworth PC