What are USAA's zero-interest loans for federal workers?

USAA is offering zero-interest, zero-fee loans of up to $6,000 to federal employees affected by the government shutdown. These loans are designed to help workers meet their essential needs during the ongoing crisis.

How many federal workers have received loans from Navy Federal Credit Union?

During the previous government shutdown in 2018-2019, Navy Federal Credit Union issued a total of $53 million in loans to 32,000 recipients through its "Paycheck Assistance Program."

How are families coping with the financial impact of the shutdown?

One San Antonio woman, whose husband works for the Department of Defense, took out a $3,200 loan from USAA to help her family pay bills and cover medical expenses for their child's spinal fusion surgery.

Home / Business and Economy / Federal Workers Turn to Zero-Interest Loans as Shutdown Persists

Federal Workers Turn to Zero-Interest Loans as Shutdown Persists

1 Nov

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Summary

Federal employees rely on no-interest loans from banks
Shutdown leaves families facing medical bills and other costs
Over $365 million in special loans issued by USAA since shutdown

Federal Workers Turn to Zero-Interest Loans as Shutdown Persists

The prolonged government shutdown has left many federal employees in a financial crunch, forcing them to seek assistance from banks offering zero-interest loans. As of November 2, 2025, the shutdown has been ongoing for 30 days, with no resolution in sight.

One San Antonio woman, whose husband works for the Department of Defense, recently took out a $3,200 loan from the United Services Automobile Association (USAA) to help her family pay the bills. She explained that her family would have been "in trouble" without the financial support, as they are also dealing with medical bills from a spinal fusion surgery for one of their five children earlier this year.

Since the shutdown began on October 1, 2025, USAA has issued over $365 million in special loans to more than 119,000 federal employees affected by the crisis. These zero-interest, zero-fee loans are designed to help workers meet their essential needs during the ongoing impasse in Congress.

Other lenders, such as Navy Federal Credit Union, have also stepped in to provide financial assistance. The credit union's "Paycheck Assistance Program" offers no-interest loans to members in the amount of their regular deposits, up to $6,000. During the previous government shutdown in 2018-2019, Navy Federal issued a total of $53 million in loans to 32,000 recipients.

As the financial fallout from the shutdown continues to escalate, federal employees and their families are being forced to make difficult choices and seek alternative sources of support to make ends meet.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.