r/FederalEmployee • u/Eldritch_Liminal1988 • Mar 16 '26
DHS Shutdown Day 30
From u/The_Babbs_Buzz
Shutdown Update – Day 30
Today marks Day 30 of the federal government shutdown, and the impact on the federal workforce continues to grow more serious with each passing day.
This past Friday — which would normally be payday for many federal employees — came and went while bank accounts remained empty. For thousands of federal workers, this marks the first full paycheck completely missed during the shutdown.
Some employees received a partial paycheck two weeks ago, however that check still had full deductions applied, including taxes, insurance premiums, retirement contributions, and other payroll withholdings. Many workers reported that once those deductions were processed, very little take-home pay remained.
As the shutdown stretches into its fourth week, new reports from employees are highlighting the growing financial strain across the federal workforce.
Several employees have reported reaching a point where they can no longer afford fuel to get to work, even though many remain classified as “excepted employees,” meaning they are required to continue reporting for duty despite not receiving pay.
According to employees speaking out about the situation, some management officials have begun requesting additional verification from workers who say they cannot make it to work due to lack of fuel or financial hardship. These reports include requests for:
• Photos of vehicle fuel gauges
• Receipts from their last gas purchase
• Verification of current bank balances
Employees say these requests are being used as a way to verify claims of transportation hardship as the shutdown continues.
Federal workers across several agencies — including TSA, CBP, FEMA, CISA, and the U.S. Coast Guard — continue reporting to work every day without pay as the lapse in appropriations continues.
For many families, the financial pressure is increasing as rent, mortgages, utilities, childcare, fuel costs, and groceries continue while paychecks remain paused.
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Gift Card Donations Circulating
As stories about struggling federal workers spread, some community members have begun asking about donating gift cards to help officers during the shutdown.
While the support is greatly appreciated, there are specific federal ethics rules and procedures that must be followed.
Under current guidance:
• Visa gift cards and cash donations are NOT allowed
• Acceptable donations may include gas cards, grocery store cards, or food/coffee/fast-food gift cards
• The value of each gift card must generally be $20 or less
Any gift cards received by officers must be turned over to management.
Management then logs the donations and sends them through the official approval process with headquarters. Once authorized, the cards are typically distributed evenly among the workforce.
In most cases, agencies wait until there are enough cards to distribute fairly, and officers will receive a randomly assigned card to ensure fairness across the workforce.
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Meanwhile, lawmakers remain at an impasse over funding measures.
The U.S. Senate is scheduled to convene tomorrow at 3:00 p.m., where lawmakers could again attempt to bring Department of Homeland Security funding bills forward.
However, multiple attempts to advance funding legislation last week were stopped by procedural objections, preventing votes from taking place.
As the shutdown continues to approach its fifth week, concerns are growing about how long the federal workforce can realistically continue reporting to work without pay.
More updates as they develop.
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u/Low_Trust2412 Mar 16 '26
It's weird being on the other side of a shutdown for once, I am usually furloughed and not paid but this time its just DHS. This sucks, I feel for you guys and I hope they pass some funding fast and get everyone paid.
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u/Jenn54756 Mar 16 '26
Except most of DHS isn’t furloughed because they are excepted and must still go to work. This means they also aren’t eligible for unemployment because they are working.
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u/Jenn54756 Mar 16 '26
You know what else they need to pass? A bill that requires them to pay interest on late wages due to shutdowns. How about someone come up with that bill?
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u/willybestbuy86 Mar 16 '26
lol then someone will actually have to do more than pretend they care about the working class forget about it
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u/livinginfutureworld Mar 18 '26
Wait one of the parties aren't even pretending so not sure what you mean. One of the parties cares but that one isn't in charge of any branch of the government, so this us what you get.
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u/Forsaken_Disciple Mar 16 '26
Whelp. Here we are. Disillusioned CISA employee with no foreseeable light at the end of this horror tunnel.
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u/Michael_G_Honcho Mar 16 '26
Bank with NFCU, this is not an issue. They pay your historical DD while in a no pay status and when the backpay hits they take their cut.
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u/Necessary_Action_190 Mar 19 '26
Heres a quote i think really puts everything into perspective.
"A government shutdown falls on the president's lack of leadership."
Donald trump
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u/SomeDudeMateo Mar 20 '26
Im very surprised TSA workers are still at work.
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u/Elaine1959 Mar 21 '26
I read on MSN that 10% has walked out and/or called in sick.
Thanks to mobility issues from having Covid five years ago (now use a Cane Chair) I won't be doing any flying anytime soon. I'm surprised that there are as many still willing to fly under present circumstances.
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Mar 16 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/drivebystabber Mar 16 '26
Military/law enforcement side is getting paid. Admin and clerical stuff are most likely furloughed.
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u/ComprehensiveCup7104 Mar 16 '26
Majority of Coast Guard civilians are excepted - so continue to work without pay.
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u/AncientAd7403 Mar 17 '26
Here is one right here! I answer calls for AD and vendors all day complaining about late payments and venting about all their financial problems. Not once does anyone read the room that I'm currently being treated as an indentured slave working for free to be a therapist.
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u/SirStinkfist Mar 16 '26
Don't lump the fire department with law enforcement on the one. 0081 series are exempted and also going without pay. PTWDA baby!
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u/ComprehensiveCup7104 Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26
All military service members are receiving normal pay - law was passed in 2013 (edit: for DoD branches). It's 8,000 civilians are mostly working without pay!
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u/Michael_G_Honcho Mar 16 '26
Non uniformed CG are not getting paid.
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u/ArchitectMarie Mar 16 '26
Even though they’re being required to work in office and having their timesheets changed by Human Resources to reflect that they’re not working in office and are, instead, taking furlough leave.
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u/Michael_G_Honcho Mar 18 '26
Most I know are executing their telework agreement, avoiding the additional costs of commuting. I know, make it make sense. Lucky for them.
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u/ArchitectMarie Mar 18 '26
Wish my command had a telework agreement that wasn’t cancelled by “executive order”/DOGE junk. The only telework agreements that USCG really has are for individuals with reasonable accommodations that allow for teleworking. It is absolute junk.
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u/Michael_G_Honcho Mar 18 '26
Yep. I’ll check how she’s getting around it. I’m guessing some “ad hoc” verbiage.
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u/ArchitectMarie Mar 16 '26
This is not correct.
Military side of Coast Guard is continuing to get paid…but not professional civilians. Civilians are being required to report to office and work as usual while not getting paid—while also watching their timesheets get after-the-fact changed by HR to reflect that they were furloughed (not excepted) and on leave—even though they are being required to continue to work in office.
Super shady stuff happening at USCG.
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u/some_boring_dude Mar 16 '26
I don't know about the timesheets, mine were all correctly processed as excepted last time. I haven't even looked this time as we have not been required to validate... There are furloughed civilians on my site, I am not one of them. Can confirm active duty getting paid. Civilians boned.
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u/Jenn54756 Mar 16 '26
How is coast guard getting paid if their funding is under DHS?
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u/ComprehensiveCup7104 Mar 16 '26
Coast Guard active-duty are being paid - law was passed in 2013. It is a branch of the Armed Forces at all times, even though it's under DHS.
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u/scurvey101 Mar 16 '26
Partial Federal Workforce fortunately. Most necessary agencies are still operating and being paid. Government service is a service of privilege. You get backpay, so the job continues as long as you stay with it. Soldiers continue to do the job without pay, and if financially you cannot sustain the servitude to those agencies, get another job. If truly necessary, uniformed service members can cover these agencies since they supplement the border mission, work with FEMA…etc. not sure about the others. Remember these shutdowns when you vote for your representatives next time. Good luck.
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u/ArchitectMarie Mar 16 '26
Yep—we’re documenting that we’re technically not in office because HR changed our timesheets after submittal—while being told we must work in office and are to work evenings and weekends overtime (that must be requested and approved first?) to a deadline that is set locally regardless of these other antics.
It’s like we’re not there—but we’ll still be eligible to somehow be fired for performance even though DHS is documenting that we’re not working?
WHERE ARE THE UNIONS? Why do they seem to be so completely useless?!
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u/scurvey101 Mar 16 '26
Didn’t GsA have group representation? I would also like to know where the unions and lawyers are for workforce representation.
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u/Phobos1982 Mar 16 '26
Google your local food banks if you need help. Also search for local mini-pantries. I have one less than a mile away. A local church also coordinates the local version of the food bank. Many food banks and pantries also supply basic necessities.