The United States federal government has been shut down since Oct. 1, 2025, making it the longest shutdown in American history.
The shutdown's effects on government workers, employers and low-income families extend even to BYU students participating in the Washington Seminar Program in D.C. this semester.
BYU’s Washington Seminar Program is designed to help students find internships in Washington, D.C., and has been in operation since 1973. Lisa Peck, the internship program administrator, talked about the impact the shutdown has had on BYU students.
“We currently only have one student who’s impacted, even though we have many different internships,” Peck said.
That student is Rachel Ellingson, a BYU political science student who has been on furlough since the shutdown went into effect. Before the shutdown, she worked as a congressional aide.
She described the feeling right before the shutdown began, as well as the gossip in the offices and among the other interns. Everyone could see the shutdown coming.
“On Sept. 30, we had a staff meeting on 'what if the government shutdown happened' … It reminded me a bit of when we got the news about COVID,” Ellingson said.
Other students also experienced a two-week transition period, during which all personnel were furloughed. When those with jobs deemed “essential” returned to work, Ellingson was not one of them.
Peck and others sprang into action to assist, providing projects to help Ellingson still receive course credit necessary for her graduation.
This is not the first government shutdown; the most recent occurred during President Donald J. Trump’s first term in 2018. There have been five shutdowns in American history, including this one.
“We have had a couple of times previously where we’ve had a shutdown situation, and of course, there’s a lot of uncertainty every time. Being able to adapt and helping the students have a positive experience and gain that professional experience is our priority,” Peck said.
One student, not a part of the Washington Seminar, who wished to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of their work, spoke about the uncertainty and frustration that have come from the shutdown.
“As a government worker, I haven’t been paid for the entire month of October — both for the time I was furloughed and now in my 'expected' work status,” said the student.
The student anticipates receiving “back-pay” for the work that is currently being performed, but also admitted that they were concerned that federal workers could go without pay.
Ellingson expressed gratitude that while she isn’t getting paid right now, she doesn’t have a family or rent to worry about. Other federal workers are not so lucky.
Both interns are waiting for the government to open back up in order to receive the wages that are expected.
“This is a disappointing experience to pack up my life and move to D.C. with this expectation that I’d be working hard every day and then to be stuck in a limbo state,” Ellingson said.
There is currently no timeline for the government to reopen. Until the next federal funding bill is passed, the future remains uncertain.
“Regardless, I have really enjoyed this internship and could genuinely see myself working here full-time someday, so the idea of losing that opportunity was pretty unsettling,” the anonymous student said.
According to Peck, the Washington Seminar Program intends to continue helping students have good experiences and is optimistic that the program will continue in the future.