(Nathan Ferraro / Fourth Estate)
How the 43-day shutdown impacted Mason’s military-affiliated students
BY ETHAN NAVARRO, STAFF WRITER
On Oct. 1, 2025, the U.S. federal government entered what would become the longest shutdown in its history, lasting until Nov. 12.
Congress’s failure to pass appropriations for fiscal year 2026 triggered a 43-day lapse in funding, furloughing roughly 670,000 federal workers while also stalling essential services.
As someone working in George Mason ’s Office of Military Services, I saw firsthand how deeply our students who utilize military benefits or are tied to government-affiliated jobs felt the effects of the shutdown.
This wasn’t a distant political fight. For Mason students depending on Veterans Affairs education benefits, the shutdown equaled uncertainty. Normally, certifying students’ educational benefits runs smoothly each term.
Due to an unforeseen shift away from text-verification, however, the benefits system suddenly required recertification for students worldwide. This abrupt issue was due to a technical malfunction within VA systems that happened to occur concurrently with the shutdown.
With the VA helpline closed and federal employees unreachable, many students couldn’t confirm whether their stipend or Basic Allowance for Housing would be distributed.
The anxiety was palpable. At my office, dozens if not hundreds of students called or visited for help.
They voiced concerns about rent, food, bills and other means of supporting themselves. Some said they might miss payments. Others feared late fees or were already pulling from savings without guarantee of reimbursement.
This was only worsened by the onset of spring registration: students hesitated to sign up for classes if their accounts weren’t balanced, while others were outright denied the ability to do so due to financial holds.
There were also several students who had parents or guardians employed in federal roles furloughed, or worse, working without pay for weeks.
Students shared stories of family stress, confusion and hard choices: would they stretch their own funds to help their families, or risk falling behind themselves? For some, the shutdown was a stark reminder that their way of life was vulnerable to political gridlock.
The Office of Military Services became a de facto lifeline. With the Veterans Affairs hotline down and more students scrambling for answers, we answered the call to action. We assessed benefit status, reviewed paperwork, offered financial planning advice and provided a calm voice in an uncaring storm.
But it was emotionally draining, too. Only Veterans Affairs could authorize payments, so many times we were disheartened to see students walk away without the exact kind of support they had sought from us.
The worst part was watching the stress mount for veterans and their dependents. They would call, email or drop by — sometimes desperate, sometimes angry, most times exhausted. Like many educational workers dealing with the shutdown, we tried to support as many people as possible.
The task was daunting, but being seen as a source of reliability and assistance encouraged us to stay resolute. We joked where we could (because when else do you laugh at bureaucracy?), even if it never fully masked the frustration lurking beneath the situation.
Amid this turmoil, something hopeful emerged: community. Students leaned on one another. Military services staff went the extra mile. Despite the uncertainty, the shared experience fostered connection. Many military-connected students pushed through, relied on their resourcefulness, and kept going.
What happened at George Mason University during this shutdown was not unique to us. It was a reflection of a systemic problem.
The shutdown laid bare how policy decisions in Washington can pervade individual lives, affecting tuition, housing, food security, mental health and family stability. For the broader Mason community, this kind of impact is not just an academic issue, but a human one.
When circumstances spiral beyond our control, we rely on one another to get through. Our students and staff, military-affiliated or otherwise, deserve to be heard. Their persistence during the shutdown reflects the quiet resolve that defines our Mason community.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Fourth Estate welcomes opinion articles by people of all beliefs. If you feel strongly about a subject and want your voice to be heard, please email Opinion Editor Emma G. Schaible at eschaib@gmu.edu.
