Unpaid & uncertain: Psychological impacts of federal shutdowns

On the morning of October 1, 2025, hundreds of thousands of federal employees woke up unsure if they would see a paycheck or if their jobs would continue to exist. The longest government shutdown in U.S. history lasted 43 days, furloughing roughly 670,000 workers and forcing another 730,000 to keep working without pay, according to The New York Times. While the financial strain was immediate, experts warn that abrupt job loss can destabilize more than income. Routines collapse, social ties fray, and even a person’s sense of identity can be shaken, with potentially lasting psychological effects. David Blustein, Ph.D., professor of counseling a...