Editor’s note: A previous version of this story implied that a student was unable to complete her fellows program because of the federal government shutdown. A previous version of this story also implied that this student was furloughed, when she was not. The Diamondback published this information without verifying that this story’s headline and written story matched the sourced interview. This mischaracterization of the student’s interview did not meet editorial standards. The Diamondback has updated the story and its headline and regrets the error.
University of Maryland student Elizabeth Dorokhina was excited to begin her internship at the Federal Trade Commission for the fall semester.
But soon after she received the offer, the federal government shut down.
“It kind of caught me off guard,” the junior English and history major said. “I do really wish I could have started that position.”
Since the shutdown occurred toward the start of the school year, she has been unable to find a new opportunity for the semester, she explained.
Dorokhina, like some other university community members, are now uncertain about their careers due to the federal government shutdown.
The government shut down on Oct. 1, leaving about 750,000 federal employees at risk of being furloughed each day, according to a letter from the Congressional Budget Office. Some university community members have been furloughed or put on back-pay from their federal jobs and internships.
[UMD experts say worse political gridlock is contributing to government shutdown’s length]
Noah Der Garabedian, a junior computer science and finance major, has been working at the Government Accountability Office as an analysis and program management intern since September.
Der Garabedian is currently unable to work due to the pause in operations, despite still needing to meet deadlines once the government re-opens, he said. But the shutdown has no end in sight.
According to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), this shutdown may be the longest in history, the Associated Press reported. The longest shutdown to date lasted 35 days during Trump’s first term in early 2019.
Der Garabedian explained that the Trump administration’s budget cuts have also affected his ability to work. Last spring, he was set to intern at the Department of the Interior when budget cuts eliminated his position nearly a week before its start date.
“Having this happen a second time … it’s definitely tough for the future outlook of me wanting to potentially work in the government,” he said.
[Here’s how UMD community members could be affected by the government shutdown]
While a government shutdown does not typically halt federally-funded research programs, there is still a possibility of impact at this university.
There is currently not a widespread impact on research, but no new awards have been granted during the shutdown, according to a statement from the university’s research vice president Patrick O’Shea.
Sophomore government and politics major Joyce Zhang has been employed at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the trade policy and programs directorate since August. Zhang is working the same hours, but is not getting paid.
Although her pay will come eventually, Zhang said she feels grateful that she does not rely on her internship to pay her bills.
“It’s not a good feeling,” she said. “I definitely think that the students that rely on that paycheck are definitely impacted.”
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misspelled Noah Der Garabedian’s name. A previous version of this story also misstated that all research awards had been halted. Only new research rewards are affected by the shutdown. This story has been updated.
Staff writer Mayah Nachman contributed to this story.
