The Brief The federal government shutdown just after 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1. Millions of federal workers across the country will not be paid during the shutdown. ORLANDO - The partial shutdown of the federal government could have an economic impact , although it's unlikely to have a significant impact based on past shutdowns. Non-essential workers are furloughed during the shutdown, while essential workers remain on the job – though they typically aren't paid until the lapse in government funding ends. A report by the Office of Management and Budget on the effects of the FY2014 shutdown noted there are some areas of economic disruption caused by the shutdown.