For most of us, Washington feels a world away. Congress argues, agencies close and headlines scroll past on our phones somewhere between homework and a basketball score. But the longer this government shutdown drags on, the clearer it becomes that it isn’t just a D.C. problem, it’s a Villanova problem, too.
It’s been weeks since the shutdown began, and the federal government is still paralyzed. For Villanovans who rely on student aid, research grants, federal work-study jobs or internships tied to government agencies, that paralysis is already rippling into daily life.
Pell Grants and Direct Student Loans are still being distributed for now, thanks to mandatory funding. But nearly every other federal program that touches higher education is operating with reduced staff or none at all. That means FAFSA processing is slower, call centers are backlogged and forgiveness applications are piling up in inboxes no one is checking. For students navigating aid or repayment plans, that can mean weeks of delay and a lot of frustration.
Some work-study positions tied to federal programs are in limbo, too. The longer the shutdown lasts, the harder it becomes for universities to guarantee continued funding. Even if Villanova has reserve funds to cover short-term needs, not every campus office can operate indefinitely without clarity from Washington. And for students counting on that paycheck to buy groceries or cover rent, even a small disruption matters.
Villanova prides itself on undergraduate research, whether in political science, environmental studies, engineering or nursing. But many of those projects depend on federal partnerships or databases. With many government websites down or not updating, students can’t access key datasets from agencies like the EPA, NASA or the Department of Labor. Faculty writing grant proposals have to hit pause because new federal funding can’t be processed.
That pause is costly. For seniors finishing capstones or undergraduates applying to grad school, missing access to federal resources means missing opportunities to stand out. Villanova’s research culture thrives on curiosity and innovation, two things that can’t flourish when the government literally locks the data away.
“As a student who relies on public government-sponsored data for research purposes, the government shutdown has seriously hindered what myself and my classmates can achieve in academic spaces,” Emma Allegretti, a junior environmental studies major, said.
Like Allegretti, professors and students across departments are finding their projects stalled by something far beyond their control.
The shutdown is also freezing opportunities for Villanovans who hope to work in government. Applications for internships and entry-level jobs at agencies like the State Department, CDC or Department of Justice are sitting untouched. Security clearances are paused and some offices aren’t responding at all. That backlog will take months to clear even after the government reopens, meaning students who hoped to start careers in public service are left in limbo.
It’s easy to frame the shutdown as a partisan fight, but for most of us, the real issue isn’t which party is winning. It’s the fact that while Congress argues, ordinary people are left waiting. Federal employees are missing paychecks. Students are missing opportunities. Researchers are missing data. Whether you agree or disagree with how either party is handling negotiations, the reality is the same: the longer this goes on, the more it seeps into everyday life.
“Even though I’m not directly affected now, I’m worried I might be,” said junior communication major Annika Veurink. “We’re a democracy and we still depend on our federal government.”
Her concern reflects what many students are feeling: a mix of uncertainty and unease about what happens when the system we rely on stops working.
And the longer the shutdown drags on, the more it exposes inequities. Students with financial cushions can absorb delays. Students who can’t are the ones who bear the brunt. The shutdown doesn’t just freeze government. It freezes opportunity.
As Villanovans, we can still choose to respond thoughtfully. Check in with Financial Aid to make sure your records are up to date. Talk to professors if your research depends on federal data. If you were planning to apply for a government internship, look at state, nonprofit or private sector alternatives for now.
Villanova’s administration should also keep students informed about how prolonged shutdowns could affect federal funding for aid and research. Communication won’t make the gridlock disappear, but it can help students plan around it.
No one knows how long this will last. But pretending it doesn’t matter won’t make it end any faster. Villanovans don’t need to pick a side in Washington’s fight to understand what’s at stake, only to recognize that even when the government stops, life on campus doesn’t. And the longer it takes to restart, the harder it gets for students to move forward.
