While the government shutdown has frozen most federal operations and stalled major policy reforms, the Department of Defense is moving in the opposite direction: it’s accelerating its workforce cuts. As reported by FEDweek, this jarring contrast highlights a new and unstable reality for the entire federal workforce. Even as the government is at a standstill, the drive to reduce the number of federal employees is actively gaining speed, making personal financial preparedness more critical than ever.
The current government shutdown, now dragging into its third week, has furloughed hundreds of thousands of federal employees and frozen their paychecks indefinitely. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has repeatedly shown that these shutdowns have a significant and permanent negative impact on the U.S. economy, with the last major shutdown costing $3 billion in lost GDP. Yet, in the midst of this self-inflicted crisis, the Pentagon is not waiting. It is actively pushing forward with plans to eliminate thousands of civilian positions, using the shutdown as a backdrop to accelerate its downsizing efforts.
This move is sending a shockwave of anxiety through a workforce already at its breaking point. The 2024 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS), conducted before the current crisis, revealed that the Job Security and Satisfaction Index had already fallen to a 10-year low. With the Pentagon now making it clear that workforce reduction is a top priority, even during a shutdown, the message to every federal employee is stark: your job is not secure, and the ground beneath your career is fundamentally shifting.
Your Only Defense Is a Proactive Financial Plan
In an environment where a shutdown can freeze your pay and your own agency is accelerating layoffs, the traditional promise of a stable federal career is gone. The only reliable security you and your family have is a powerful, resilient personal financial plan that you control. This is your personal defense—a financial fortress that can withstand the chaos of a shutdown, a RIF, or any other career uncertainty.
This is where the specialized expertise of Internal Benefit Advisors becomes the most critical component of your personal security. They are dedicated to educating federal employees on the intricacies of their benefits, helping them build a financial foundation strong enough to weather any political storm.
Here’s how they empower you to take command of your future:
- “RIF-Proofing” Your Finances: They work with you to create a robust financial strategy that can withstand a sudden loss of income. This includes building an emergency fund, understanding your options for your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), and ensuring your family is protected.
- Comprehensive Separation Analysis: In the face of a potential RIF, you need to know exactly what you are entitled to. They provide a complete analysis of your FERS/CSRS pension, FEGLI, and health benefits to ensure you understand all your options upon separation.
- Empowerment Through Education: Knowledge is your strongest defense against uncertainty. Internal Benefit Advisors provides the clear, unbiased education you need to navigate complex federal benefits and make confident, proactive decisions for your financial well-being.
The rules have changed. While Washington is stalled, the threats to your career are accelerating.
Take the definitive step to build your own unshakable foundation. Contact Internal Benefit Advisors today for a confidential consultation and forge the resilient financial future your family deserves.
References
- FEDweek. “Shutdown Stalls Hegseth’s Reforms on Two Fronts as Pentagon Accelerates Cuts.”
- Congressional Budget Office. (2019, January). The Effects of the Partial Shutdown Ending in January 2019.
- Best Places to Work in the Federal Government. (2024). Government-Wide Findings.
- Internal Benefit Advisors. Retrieved from https://internalbenefitadvisors.com
