As the federal government shutdown stretches on, the American Council on Education warns that the longer it lasts, the more likely it is to affect students and universities across the country.

According to ABC News, “lawmakers remain at a stalemate on finding a government funding solution to end what is now the second-longest shutdown in U.S. history.”

Historically, institutions of higher education have experienced few negative effects from short-term shutdowns. Most aid programs are funded a year in advance, meaning financial aid and student loan disbursements should continue as normal for now.

However, a prolonged shutdown could slow or freeze many federal programs that support higher education and research. The U.S. Department of Education’s contingency plan, updated in September 2025, stated that 87 percent of its employees would be furloughed.

This would prevent agencies from issuing new grants, reviewing applications or providing technical assistance. While institutions that have already received funding should not face immediate issues, new grants or research contracts would likely be delayed.

According to the American Council on Education, “The impacts of a government shutdown often linger even after funding is restored,” and the longer a shutdown persists, the more problems accumulate. Shutdowns, which were once rare, have become increasingly common in recent years, creating uncertainty for universities, researchers and military students alike. Service members currently enrolled in college could also see delays in Tuition Assistance reimbursements, depending on how long the shutdown lasts.

Blair Schroeder, VP for advancement, external affairs, previously worked in Congress and as a lobbyist, said shutdowns have become a regular feature of modern politics.

“This happens. It’s part of the political process when you try to get a budget passed,” he said. “Especially when you have tight margins in terms of who has ownership over in the House and the Senate, whether they be Republican or Democrat.”

ACU administrators and students are keeping a close eye on how the situation unfolds. Kevin Campbell, senior vice president for operations, said he doesn’t expect significant disruptions for students unless the shutdown continues for several weeks.

“I don’t think it’s going to have an impact on the normal student situations, daily life, or the university in any substantial way,” he said. “There’s still tons of uncertainties on our end of what’s actually open and what’s actually closed, but my understanding is that they’re going to keep things like the FAFSA, or anything related to financial aid. They’re gonna try to keep those things open and functioning.”

For students with ties to the military, however, the effects may feel more personal. Joshua Konlande, junior engineering major from Fort Worth, and Marine Corps reservist, said lower-ranking service members often face the hardest financial strain during shutdowns.

“With the military in particular, the people in the military make a lot less money than federal workers, so it affects them a lot more,” he said. “I do want to preface and say that my opinions do not represent those of the Department of war or the United States Marine Corps. These are just my words.”

Konlande said some resources are available to help service members, including the Navy Federal Credit Union, the American Red Cross and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Still, he said those programs don’t always reach everyone who needs them.

“There are resources providing assistance, but those programs aren’t perfect,” Joshua said. “Some members are slipping through the cracks.”