Financial Tips For MD Federal Workers Affected By Government Shutdown

More than a quarter of a million federal workers from Maryland will be without a paycheck or may lose their jobs after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to reach an agreement to keep government programs and services running by Wednesday’s deadline.

Now that a lapse in funding has occurred, the law requires agencies to furlough their “non-excepted” employees. Excepted employees, who include those who work to protect life and property, stay on the job but don’t get paid until after the shutdown ends.

While they’ll eventually get paid, the furloughed workers and those who remain on the job may have to go without one or more of their regular paychecks, depending upon how long the shutdown lasts.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates roughly 750,000 federal employees could be furloughed each day of the shutdown, including 269,000 who live in Maryland, with the total daily cost of their compensation estimated at roughly $400 million.

Related: Federal Government Shuts Down: What To Know In MD

If you're a federal worker in Maryland affected by the government shutdown, there are several things you can do to lessen the financial blow.

Unemployment Benefits

Federal employees and federal contractors may be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits and other programs during a furlough, according to the Maryland Department of Labor.

To qualify for unemployment insurance benefits, you must:

• Be unemployed through no fault of your own.
• Be ready to work hours that are normal for your job as soon as possible, without restrictions, such as having to find child care or being away on vacation.
• Have earned enough money during the 18 months before you first applied for unemployment insurance benefits.

To file for unemployment, claimants need their Social Security number, address, telephone number, email address and employment information from the last 18 months for all jobs worked.

File online using the Maryland Unemployment Insurance Portal (BEACON), or file by phone by contacting a claims agent at 667-207-6520, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you receive retroactive pay (back pay) when you return to work, you must repay the benefits you received.

Learn more about who is eligible to receive unemployment benefits during a government shutdown.

Federal Shutdown Loan Program

To support “excepted” federal employees who will not be paid during the shutdown despite being required to work, the Maryland Department of Labor will launch the Federal Shutdown Loan Program on Oct. 6.

The program will support workers who are not eligible for unemployment insurance by offering a no-interest loan of $700 to help meet essential expenses while they await back pay following the shutdown.

“Our public servants do critical work for our nation, and losing pay during a federal shutdown creates financial hardship,” Maryland Department of Labor Secretary Portia Wu said in a statement. “Maryland is committed to providing critical support and resources during this incredibly challenging time.”

Utility Assistance

With the government shutdown now in effect, Baltimore Gas and Electric is providing expanded bill payment support options to impacted federal workers to help those customers manage their energy costs and avoid service disconnection.

Available support includes flexible payment options, late payment charge waivers and other assistance resources.

Impacted federal workers are encouraged to contact BGE’s Customer Care team at 800-685-0123 for information about these support measures and how to access them. Customers can also visit bge.com/heretohelp for more ways to manage their bill, use energy more efficiently or access energy assistance.

Pepco is also providing impacted customers with similar resources and support measures to help manage energy bills and maintain service. Customers can learn about these programs and more at pepco.com/BillSupport or by calling 202-833-7500.

WSSC Water also announced a series of measures to support federal employees impacted by the government shutdown.

Effective immediately, WSSC Water will temporarily suspend water service turnoffs for customers directly impacted by the shutdown, waive late fees to ease financial pressure for affected federal workers and extend enrollment in the popular Get Current program through Nov. 30. The assistance program helps eligible customers with a delinquent balance as of June 1, 2025, by offering forgiveness of a portion of the balance.

Other Resources In Maryland

As the shutdown continues, Maryland will continue to offer a broad range of supports for federal employees and other workers impacted by federal actions, such as:

• Support in finding a new job through 33 American Job Centers and a specialized Professional Outplacement Assistance Center, including individualized career guidance, résumé workshops, mock interviews, career and skills assessment, effective job search strategies, and networking support
• Additional career resources, such as information on transitioning to a teaching career
• A weekly virtual workshop designed specifically for former federal employees and federal contractors, and attended by more than 1,600 workers to date
• Job fairs and recruitment events
• Resources for veterans
• Legal resources
• Resources related to health coverage, housing, food, cash and other assistance

Maryland officials said they will also work to ensure that major federal programs, including Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, Head Start and veterans’ services, will continue to operate, assuming the state will be reimbursed for eligible federal expenses incurred during a shutdown.

While government shutdowns have historically been short, many federal workers in Maryland could be facing weeks without a paycheck, leaving them unable to pay bills, buy groceries and cover other financial expenses.

“The last time we had something like this, it wasn’t the entire government, but it was 35 days, and that went up to close to three paychecks for people,” John Hatton, staff vice president for policy and programs at the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, told CNBC.

Some furloughed workers could lose their jobs. Many federal offices could be shuttered, perhaps permanently, after Trump vowed to “do things that are irreversible, that are bad” as retribution.

“The state that will feel these devastating impacts the most is Maryland, which is home to more than 60 federal facilities, 260,000 federal workers and over 200,000 federal contractors,” Lt. Governor Aruna Miller said in a statement. “Shutdowns don’t just stop government — they shortchange the people who need it most.”

The Associated Press contributed reporting.