Government shutdowns hurt federal worker morale, long after paychecks resume − especially for those considered 'nonessential'

A government shutdown would affect more than 2 million federal employees, plus more than 3 million contractors. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Unless Congress and the White House can agree on a budget or extend funding short term, the federal government will shut down on Oct. 1, 2023.

This means that approximately 2.2 million civilian federal employees would be furloughed and face delayed paychecks and lost work hours – in addition to 3.7 million federal contractors who would also be forced to stop working and forgo their pay.