As the US government shutdown becomes the longest in history, influencers and insiders are taking on improvised unpaid public service roles.
Across Tiktok, Instagram and YouTube, federal workers are publishing “shutdown vlogs” that mix dark humor with practical tips. The Federal Shutdown has created its own sub-genre of resource directories, budget-intrating advice threads and mental health checks.
Courteney Bush, a long-time federal employee, inspires daily life and Tiktok tactics called “Diaries of Closure“. He is a public affairs specialist for the federal government in Washington DC and has been working in communications since 2011.
Bush defines coping as staying busy to avoid awry. He rated his closing situation as a “B-minus” overall.
“It’s a day-to-day process. I just try to find the positives every day,” he said. “We’re all trying to think of it as normal as possible, so we don’t get out.”
He was one of many people who documented their travels and “shutdown shenanigans“As furloughed employees seek to find new routines amid frozen wages.
He started his Tiktok Series organically, regularly sharing day-in-the-life videos. Having survived three extended shutdowns as a government worker, he finds it a creative outlet and a daily goal.
And the trend has reached far Tiktok. Reddit Communities For Federal Workers has been information for financial hardship programs, legal updates and advice on day-to-day coping. Similarly, Instagram Accounts pop up in the closing experiences of Conicle users.
Important non-fur workers too Post Videos About the trials and tribulations of going to work while not receiving a paycheck.
“One of the beauties of social media is that you can build community with people you’ve never met in real life, and just connect over a shared experience,” Bush said. The response to his videos has been positive, he said, and he’s heard from viewers that his videos have helped them feel “less alone”.
consideration Deidre Drakesan army wife, closure is not enough to warrant Satire. “You can stress about things or laugh,” he said. “And I think laughing burns calories, so I’ll just do that.”
Drakes Videos Mix Mix Comedy and Brutal Honesty. His first shut down video joked: “Maybe I should do something weird with some change, because the government won’t pay us.” The line lives on for the most part. “People are very supportive … They are sad that my family has to go through this, and they are changing, sharing and sending words of encouragement.”
His following has been more important since. “I lament the humor and be trusted with the importance of how people feel,” he said. “Unfortunately, a lot of people go through this.”
Drokes also sees social media as an important support network, an outlet for “giving information and finding community.”
Now, with an end to the supplemental nutrition assistance program (snap) benefits benefits, many creators are dedicating their accounts to Giving Advice for people whose food security is threatened. Some guidelines aim to keep a household fed as little as $40 a week if there is benefit.
It was inspired by a stream of “cheap food” Tiktok Super, centered around viral clips where creators demonstrate ultra-budget cooking and share in seeing food insecurity. Some creators have even assembled and circulated a lively list of free resources for furloughed federal workers, food banks, bill-pay assistance and neighborhood assistance.
Grandma Ajayaa DC-area content manager, his Tiktok and Instagram platforms in a hub for information. Known for covering life in the Metropolitan area of Washington, he chose to make today viral Resource list For Federal Workers in and around DC.
“When the government shutdown started, I thought people probably didn’t need to know about resources,” Ajayi said. “So I decided to put together a video with some resources I found at the time.”
His Google document of local resources quickly became an ongoing project that he updates daily. “When I see something on social media, I verify it and add it.”
The answer is “very, very positive”. Even those outside of DC have reached out, like a Salt Lake City government employee struggling to pay rent. “They thanked me for just making my video,” Ajayi said. “People share it with their neighbors and friends.”
consideration Robert Perezan ultramarathoner and government contract worker, the shutdown inspired an endurance challenge. Perez runs a mile every day that the government remains closed and films that explain a new aspect of the shutdown as he does so.
“On that day one of the closings, I just had this idea,” he said. “I thought, if I get up for 30 days, I can do a mile a day. It’s a good time to study my own civics lessons.”
His videos deliberately focus on awareness rather than taking a political stance. “I see if I do it in a way that’s fair to both sides, people don’t really get mad,” he said. The series became a hit, with Perez’s account having nearly 100,000 followers on Tiktok alone. “It’s 99% support. People are learning, people are appreciative.”
And like many Creators, he hopes his videos will leave a lasting legacy of what the shutdown looked like and how it affected people across the US. “It’s hard to know that it’s all because of 500-something members of Congress … the rest of the country is suffering,” he said. “I want people to understand that as the shutdown continues, that suffering will continue to grow.”
Drokes agreed with this sentiment. “Social media is a huge outlet,” he said. “The moment you see something that’s with you, you say: ‘Man, I thought I was going through this alone.'”