Who Is Missing Paychecks in the 2025 Shutdown — When and Where? (Updated October 31, 2025)

As the 2025 federal government shutdown stretches into its second month, millions of Americans—from federal workers to military personnel—have now missed one or more paychecks. The shutdown, which began on October 1, has become one of the most disruptive in U.S. history, impacting pay schedules, public services, and local economies across the country.

In this updated explainer, we break down who is missing paychecks, when they stopped receiving them, and which areas of the U.S. are most affected.

Paycheck Impact Timeline – 2025 Federal Shutdown (as of Oct. 31, 2025)

Group	Total Affected	Pay Status	First Missed Paycheck	Notes
Furloughed Civilian Employees	670,000	Not Working, Not Paid	October 24	Partial pay earlier; fully missed now
“Essential” Civilian Workers	730,000	Working, Not Paid	October 28/30	Back pay pending legislation
Active-Duty Military	1.3 million	Working, Paid (Oct. 15); Next at risk	October 31 (at risk)	$8B reallocation covered Oct. 15
National Guard & Reserves	750,000	Service Active, Pay Uncertain	October 31 (varies)	Depends on drilling schedules
Contractors	Unknown	Not Paid	Varies	No legal guarantee of back pay

How Many Are Missing Paychecks in the 2025 Shutdown?

As of October 31, 2025:

• 670,000 civilian federal employees have been furloughed and are currently not receiving pay.
• An additional 730,000 federal employees are required to work without pay as “essential” or “excepted” staff.
• 1.3 million active-duty military personnel and 750,000 National Guard and reserve members are continuing service without a confirmed paycheck for the end of October.
• If the shutdown lasts through December 1, over 10 million paychecks could be missed across civilian and military sectors.

According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, the missed wages could total up to $21 billion for civilian workers alone. (source)

When Did Federal Employees Miss Their First Paycheck?

• Many civilian employees received partial pay on October 10–16, covering work before the October 1 shutdown.
• October 24 was the first full missed paycheck for employees at major agencies like:
  • Department of Defense (DoD)
  • Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
  • Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
  • Executive Office of the President
• Other agencies processed missed paychecks on October 28 or 30, depending on their payroll systems.

If the shutdown continues, the number of withheld or partial paychecks will rise sharply in November.

When Will Military Personnel Miss Their Pay?

• Active-duty military are typically paid twice monthly.
• October 1 and 15 paychecks were covered using $8 billion in emergency reallocated funds.
• October 31 may become the first time in modern history that active-duty troops across all branches miss a paycheck due to a shutdown.
• Future military paychecks, including those for the National Guard and reservists, are also at risk unless Congress or the administration intervenes again.

Where Are the Paycheck Delays Happening?

While Washington, D.C. has the highest concentration of federal workers, the shutdown’s effects are nationwide.

2025 Shutdown – First Missed Paycheck by Group

Key regions impacted:

• Military bases: States like Texas, California, North Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia are home to some of the largest military installations.
• Federal field offices: Agencies like the USDA, OSHA, and IRS operate thousands of local offices supporting rural and urban communities.
• Airports: Over 13,000 air traffic controllers and aviation personnel have missed full paychecks, creating delays and safety concerns. (source)

Economic Fallout: What’s the Cost?

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the 2025 shutdown is on track to:

• Reduce U.S. economic output by 1%–2% in Q4 2025.
• Delay federal contracts and payments that support small businesses and nonprofits.
• Increase borrowing and personal debt among unpaid federal workers. (source)

Will Federal Employees Receive Back Pay?

Historically, federal workers have received retroactive pay after previous shutdowns—thanks to the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019. However:

• Back pay is not guaranteed for all employees this time, especially for contractors or military reserve components.
• The Trump administration has not committed to retroactive pay for every category of worker. (source)

Final Takeaway

The 2025 government shutdown has now affected nearly every corner of the federal workforce. As missed paychecks begin to stack up—and with no end in sight—the financial strain on American families and communities is intensifying.

Unless Congress passes a continuing resolution or full appropriations bills, the next wave of missed pay in mid-November could surpass previous shutdown records in both scale and economic damage.

For ongoing coverage, visit governmentshutdown.net