Furloughed = paid vacation with a delay. Treat it like a startup sprint.

Many agencies let you keep certain access (email, CAC card, building access) for 30–90 days post-separation. Use it.

Your real asset isn’t your GS grade — it’s the 500+ contacts in your Outlook who still have budgets.

The calls started on day two—credit cards, car loan, student loans. I can’t even listen to the voicemails anymore. If you’re doing the same, please read this.

The government and related organizations actually have shutdown-specific lifelines. These aren’t “making money” in the traditional sense, but they are instant cash or cash-equivalent that most laid-off feds never claim.

When the paycheck stops immediately, speed beats everything else. Realistic Day 1–7 total from this article alone: $1,500–$4,000 if you combine delivery and plasma.

The silver lining: Your clearance and federal experience are gold right now. These are the best job-search strategies for cleared government workers.

During a shutdown furlough (not RIF), you are almost always entitled to retroactive pay once the budget is passed. During a true RIF, you usually are NOT. Know the difference — your notice letter will say “furlough” or “separation/RIF.”

You’ve just been handed a furlough notice or RIF letter. This is your practical first-week survival guide (step-by-step checklist). Here’s exactly what to do in the first week.

The government still owes you backpay, but a bunch of agencies (DoD, DHS, DOJ especially) will let “essential” personnel TDY-travel during shutdowns and pay per diem upfront on your GTC because lodging/meals are considered “excepted expenditures.”

You’re either furloughed (free time) or essential (working for free IOUs). Either way, Uncle Sam just turned you into a 100% commission salesperson with no cap.

This is called “clearance whoring” in Northern Virginia. Average practitioner clears $350k–$600k/year with zero loyalty. The same companies that laid you off via budget cuts will pay you double to sit in the same cubicle wearing a different badge.