11/07/2025
Please share with our government employees who've been furloughed or laid off and may benefit.
Financial Assistance Resources
The following private financial institutions and organizations are offering assistance to their members during the shutdown. If you are a current customer, please visit the provided links or contact the institutions directly for more information:
Credit Unions
State Department Federal Credit Union: Complimentary financial counseling, emergency credit cards, skip-a-payment options, and loan payment pauses.
Pentagon Federal Credit Union: No-interest loans, skip-a-payment options, and home loan hardship assistance.
Navy Federal Credit Union: 0% APR loans for eligible members. Members should call 1-888-842-6328.
Marine Federal Credit Union: Special payroll assistance program.
Congressional Federal Credit Union: Relief Line of Credit and other assistance programs. Contact Member Services at 800-491-2328.
Interior Federal Credit Union: Emergency Relief Loans up to $10,000, waived fees for loan payments, and early withdrawals from certificates.
Andrews Federal Credit Union: Variety of resources for members.
Cabrillo Credit Union: members are eligible for loan and financial assistance.
Maryland/DC Credit Union Assistance Program: Eligible for financial relief programs.
Banks
USAA: No-interest loans for eligible members.
Bank of America: Priority assistance for furloughed employees at 844-219-0690.
Chase Bank: Special assistance line at 888-356-0023.
U.S. Bank: Waived late fees and deferred mortgage payments.
TD Bank: Assistance programs for federal employees.
SunTrust: Programs in place to help clients affected by the shutdown.
Wells Fargo: Offering options depending on the services you have with the bank.
First Command: Government Shutdown Assistance Program includes pay advance loan, Loan assistance, penalty-free early CD withdrawals, and tailored financial advice. 800-443-2104.
For a comprehensive list of assistance programs, visit the American Bankers Association’s resource page: Government Shutdown Bank Action 2025.
Financial Resources
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): Suspension of loan payments during non-pay status. Missing one or two payments will not cause loan default. Thrift Line at 877-968-3778.
Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund (FEEA): Emergency Hardship Loans and Shutdown Grants for qualifying federal employees.
National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC): Tailored financial support for furloughed employees.
CareerOneStop: Unemployment compensation for Federal Employees. 877-US2-JOBS.
WTOP published a list of help and assistance programs for furloughed federal workers in the D.C., region.
Military Times has a list of financial resources for troops experiencing financial distress due to the shutdown.
Mental Health Resources
Wellfed: Weekly virtual programs for professionals navigating career transitions.
Technologists for the Public Good has partnered with Empower Work to provide free, confidential counseling.
Justice Connection: Mental health support resources for federal employees.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Anonymous mental health and substance use treatment resources.
Endeavor offers mental health, housing and emergency assistance to its residents in the San Antonio region.
Utilities Relief
Several utility providers are offering assistance to federal employees impacted by the shutdown:
AT&T: Adjusted late fees, payment extensions, and revised payment schedules.
Verizon: Flexible payment options through the Promise to Pay program. Call 1-866-266-1445.
Washington Gas: Energy assistance for those behind on gas bills.
Dominion Energy (Virginia): Bill payment assistance for eligible individuals.
Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE): Expanded bill payment assistance options.
Housing, Rent, and Mortgage Assistance
OPM Sample Letters: Templates for contacting landlords, mortgage lenders, and utilities.
Maryland Crisis Assistance Program: Housing stabilization assistance to avoid evictions and foreclosures.
Maryland government: Implemented housing protections for involuntarily furloughed federal government employees at risk of eviction.
Fairfax County: Resources to assist in prolonged federal government shutdowns.
Virginia Protections: Eviction and foreclosure protections for federal employees during the shutdown.
Department of State Lapse of Appropriation Guidance
Lapse of appropriation guidance is evolving daily. Please review the below resources frequently for the most current guidance.
Department of State Furloughed Employee Handbook
Department of State Letter to Financial Institutions
Guidance on Operations During a Lapse in Appropriations
Other Assistance Resources
The Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund has both an Emergency Hardship Loan program and Shutdown Grants available for qualifying full-time federal civilian employees.
The Virginia Employment Commission help furloughed federal workers file for benefits.
In the New York region, The Hebrew Free Loan Society offers personal loans to support eligible federal government employees who are affected by the government shutdown.
The Shutdown Assistance Map has a searchable, filterable map of verified offers—food, financial help, utilities, transportation, entertainment, and more—for federal employees during a shutdown.
The city of Alexandria is offering payment plan assistance by request to taxpayers directly affected by the federal shutdown.
In the event of a federal government furlough, if you are a federal civilian employee or a federal contractor and will not be receiving your paycheck as a result, you may be qualified to obtain a FedChoice Furlough Loan.
Union Plus: For union members, there are a number of options available. Call 800.472.2005 to ask about offers: $300 Furlough Grant for eligible Union Plus credit card holders, Mortgage Assistance Loan & $300 Grant - payment grace period for your Union Plus Life and Accident Insurance, payment grace period for Union Plus Auto Insurance, and payment grace period for Union Plus Life and Accident Insurance.
FEEA-NARFE: Offering $100 grants to active federal employee members who are not receiving a paycheck during the current shutdown due to being furloughed or working in excepted status. To apply, visit the FEEA website.
Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Company: To help the nearly 27,000 AFGE members who currently have a policy with the company during this government shutdown, the company “will keep the policy-in-force by waving the cost of insurance charges for the next 30 days.” Policies beginning with the letter "Y" call: 844.800.9146, all other policies call: 888.513.8797.
Kia Motors Finance: Offering deferred payments of 30 days. If you’ve been affected by the current Government Shutdown and need assistance from Kia Finance, please contact us at 1.866.331.5632.
WSSC Water will temporarily suspend water service turnoffs and waive late fees for federal employees impacted by government shutdown.
Pepco provides expanded customer support measures amid shutdown to help with bills and maintain service continuity.
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) is offering extended payment arrangements, waiving otherwise applicable late payment fees and suspending disconnections for residential members who may be experiencing hardship due to the shutdown.
The Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund is offering microgrants of $150 to support federal employees impacted by shutdown to cover essentials like groceries, gas, diapers, and other basic necessities.
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance program (LIHEAP) can help pay heating and cooling bills.
Pepco has expanded support available during the federal government shutdown.
The Virginia Energy Assistance Program provides heating assistance during the winter months to income-eligible households.
The Washington Area Fuel Fund provides assistance with heating payments.
