Government Shutdown 2025

Emotional and practical assistance can help you navigate this uncertain time and protect your overall wellbeing. These resources are updated as new information becomes available and are as accurate as possible. However, due to the ever-changing nature of the situation, please note that some third-party providers may discontinue their services.

Food

  • FoodPantries.org - Search by zip code for local resources

  • FindHelp.org - Search by zip code for local resources

  • Feeding America - Food banks and resources, including programs for children and seniors

  • Flashfood - Mobile app allows users to purchase groceries at a significant discount, often 50% off or more, from partner grocery stores

  • Full Cart - This nonprofit partners with generous donors to cover the cost of food; register online to get it shipped to your door

  • Mutual Aid Networks - Find food assistance, such as community fridges, community gardens and soup kitchens

  • Olio - Free mobile app that connects neighbors to share surplus food and other household items, preventing them from being thrown away

  • Project Food Box - The program partners with health plans and healthcare providers to deliver "medically tailored" food boxes to eligible patients to manage conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and more

  • The Too Good To Go - Mobile app that allows users to buy "Surprise Bags" of surplus food from local businesses like restaurants, cafes and supermarkets at a significant discount

  • USDA National Hunger Hotline - Connects callers with emergency food providers in their community; 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479)

  • USDA Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program - Search by state; designed to provide low-income seniors with access to locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey and herbs

  • WhyHunger - Search by zip code for food pantries and soup kitchens

  • World Central Kitchen - Providing meals to federal employees and their families

  • AFL-CIO Community Partnerships and United Way - Supplemental food and nutrition programs, services for veterans and more; call 211 for assistance

If you are in immediate need of food assistance, please dial 211 from a phone and speak with a representative about the services available in your area. Lines are typically open 24 hours a day; however, not all areas provide 211 phone support.

Health and wellbeing

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) or dial or text 988, 24 hours a day, seven days a week or visit their website.

The Grief and Loss Toolkit also provides valuable information and resources for coping.

Financial assistance

  • Ally Bank - Supporting customers affected by the U.S. government shutdown with a range of assistance options, including waivers for wire and expedited check fees, no-penalty early CD withdrawals, auto payment support and no charge for overdraft or account fees

  • America’s Credit Union - Resources, including credit union-specific information

  • Andrews Federal Credit Union - Offering financial assistance loan options, penalty-free share certificate withdrawals, skip-a-payment programs and other assistance with loan programs

  • Army Emergency Relief - Provides interest-free loans equal to the amount of one paycheck, up to a maximum amount of $6,000, for soldiers and families who experience financial hardship due to a lack of pay; 866-878-6378

  • Bank of America - Assistance available to furloughed federal employees; 844-219-0691

  • BayCoast Bank - With loan amounts available from $1,000 to $15,000, those who qualify for BayCoast Bank’s Emergency Federal Employee Loan Program will receive interest-free financing for six months

  • BMO - Relief assistance includes waiver of monthly maintenance fees, non-BMO ATM transaction fees and overdraft fees; 888-340-2265

  • Chase Bank - Providing help to their customers who are U.S. government employees affected by the shutdown; 888-356-0023

  • Coast Guard Mutual Assistance - Offering interest-free loans to help with bills, such as rent payments, insurance and child care; Coast Guard military and civilian employees may be eligible to borrow up to the amount of their monthly Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) as needed

  • Commerce Department Credit Union - Offering 30-day zero-interest loans for federal workers during the shutdown for up to $10,000; 888-626-9845

  • Congressional Federal Credit Union - Offering zero-interest Furlough Relief loans of up to $10,000 during the shutdown to all federal employees - you do not have to be a Congressional employee to join this credit union; 800-491-2328

  • FedChoice Federal Credit Union - Offering the equivalent of one month's net pay as the maximum loan amount, plus 60 days until the first payment in six, 12, 24 or 36-month repayment terms

  • Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund (FEEA) - Has an Emergency Hardship Loan program and Shutdown Grants available for qualifying full-time federal civilian employees; FEEA is also offering microgrants of $150 to support federal employees impacted by the shutdown to cover essentials like groceries, gas, diapers and other basic necessities

  • First Command - Offering a zero-interest pay advance loan with no fees or interest charges

  • The Hebrew Free Loan Society - Offers personal loans to support eligible federal government employees in the New York region who are affected by the government shutdown

  • Interior Federal Credit Union - Offering a special loan for both member and non-member furloughed federal workers. Net paycheck up to $15,000, interest-free up to 30 days. Members may apply for a limit up to the equivalent of two net paychecks; 800-914-8619

  • Lifeline - Can help eligible consumers pay for their landline or wireless phone service, or internet bill

  • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) - Provides assistance to eligible low-income households with the goal of managing and meeting their immediate home heating and/or cooling needs

  • Navy Federal Credit Union - Offering zero-interest loans of up to $6,000 to its members and other federal government employees during the shutdown; 888-842-6328

  • PayPal - Offering interest-free cash advances to furloughed federal workers, whether they are new or existing customers; 877-689-1975

  • PenFed - Offering zero-interest loans equal to the amount of missed paychecks for furloughed federal workers who are existing members and have their pay directly deposited to their PenFed account; 1-800-247-5626

  • USAA’s Government Shutdown Program - Offering no-interest loans and other payment relief options from $500 to $6,000; 210-531-8722

  • U.S. Bank - Providing flexible personal lending solutions, deferring first payment dates for new mortgages and waiving late fees for existing mortgages

  • U.S. Employees Credit Union - Offering interest-free shutdown loans to eligible members; 312-922-5310

  • United States Senate Federal Credit Union - Offering zero-interest loans for 90 days of up to $5,000 during the shutdown for federal employees; 800-374-2758

  • VFW Unmet Needs Program - Available to active-duty service members and their families; provides financial assistance up to $2,500 to assist daily necessities in the form of a grant – not a loan – so no repayment is required

  • Wells Fargo - Offering different options to help, depending on the services you have with their bank

Children

Pets

  • The Pet Fund - Provides financial assistance for owners who cannot afford non-basic, non-urgent veterinary care

  • Paws 4 A Cure - Provides financial assistance for urgent veterinary care to dogs and cats in need across the United States

  • RedRover - Provides financial assistance grants and resources for animals in urgent need of veterinary care

Contact your local Humane Society or animal shelter by searching online. Many are providing assistance for food and care through specific programs.

Phone and internet

  • AT&T - Offering hardship support, flexible payment arrangements, deferred billing for wireless/TV/internet for customers with proof of impact

  • T-Mobile - Payment deferral and flexible account support for T-Mobile customers with proof of impact; call 611 (from T-Mobile device) or 877-746-0909

  • Verizon - Offering flexible payment arrangements for Federal workers, military and first responders

Auto

  • Kia Motors Finance - Offering deferred payments of 30 days; 866-331-5632

  • Toyota Financial Services - Offering existing customers loan/lease extensions up to two months through the flexible hardship programs; 800-874-8822

Career

  • CareerOneStop - U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration’s site provides a better understanding of unemployment funding opportunities for federal employees

  • wellfed - Offers three recurring weekly virtual programs designed to provide structure, support and momentum for professionals navigating career transitions

Travel

  • FlightAware - Provides information on delays and cancellations for flights around the country

Other resources

  • Contact 211 (United Way) - Resources for help finding options to pay your rent, mortgage or utilities bills and stay in your home

  • Freecycle - A grassroots nonprofit movement of people who are giving and getting stuff for free

  • HUD Exchange - Assistance for homeless veterans

  • Salvation Army - Search by zip code to locate utility assistance, food banks and shelters

  • Trash Nothing - Individuals can join for free and search by zip code to find free items

Search the Shutdown Assistance Map for additional resources and assistance.

State-specific resources

Outside the DC area, states with the highest total number of federal employees impacted by the government shutdown are California, Texas and Florida.

Washington Gas - Providing energy assistance programs to help manage energy bills for residents of Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia

District of Columbia

Delaware

Federal Government Shutdown - Find local resources and information

Maryland

Federal workers can ride the MARC train and Commuter Bus for free during the government shutdown when they show a federal ID badge.

Virginia

Federal employees and contractors can’t be evicted or foreclosed on during a federal government shutdown, under state law.

California

Florida

Texas