Amid the U.S. government shutdown, a new national poll from GoDaddy and HarrisX reveals that Americans — including federal government employees directly affected by the shutdown — are responding with resilience and turning uncertainty into opportunity.

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This study builds on GoDaddy’s ongoing research into how external events, from inflation to policy changes, influence entrepreneurial mindsets and financial behaviors. Conducted in October 2025, the survey gathered responses from more than 1,100 U.S. adults and more than 200 federal government employees to understand how the shutdown is affecting financial confidence, spending, and entrepreneurial intent.

The Shutdown Is Rattling Financial Confidence — Especially for Federal Employees

Americans are feeling the effects of economic uncertainty in their own finances.

• 61% of Americans and 76% of federal employees are concerned about the impact the government shutdown may have on their personal finances.
• 56% of federal employees and 34% of U.S. adults say the shutdown has made them less confident about the stability of their income.
• Nearly half (46%) of federal employees reported being furloughed or working without pay during the shutdown.
• Concerns extend beyond personal finances: 71% of Americans worry about small businesses and 64% about consumer spending. Among federal employees, those numbers rise to 75% and 73%, respectively, with 90% concerned about the impact overall.

Economic Anxiety Is Changing Behavior

Rising anxiety around the shutdown is spurring caution when it comes to spending.

• 63% of federal employees and 41% of Americans report reducing spending in response to the shutdown.
• 44% of federal employees and 29% of all consumers say they’re delaying major purchases.
• 39% of federal employees are already dipping into savings to cover expenses — nearly double the 21% of the general population doing the same.

The Shutdown Could Fuel Entrepreneurial Intent

Economic uncertainty could drive many to pursue greater financial independence.

• 70% of Americans and 67% of federal employees agree that the shutdown underscores the need to be self-reliant when it comes to generating income.
• 74% of U.S. adults and 79% of federal employees agree that in challenging times, people benefit from creating their own financial opportunities.
• 50% of Americans and 41% of federal employees say they would start a business or side hustle if their income were disrupted by the shutdown or another economic event.

Turning Insight Into Action

The findings suggest that financial instability is shaping not just household budgets but mindsets — with more people viewing entrepreneurship as a path to stability. Across the country, Americans are using their skills and creativity to build new income streams, from side hustles to small businesses.

GoDaddy’s mission is to make that journey easier. Whether it’s naming an idea, launching a website, or finding customers, GoDaddy provides the tools and guidance to help people turn ideas into income — faster.

For example, new customers can get started for just $4.99, choosing a domain and using GoDaddy Airo® to create a business presence online in minutes. GoDaddy Airo® helps people move from inspiration to action using AI to automatically generate a business name, design a logo, create a website, and even draft content to attract customers — empowering more individuals to take control of their financial futures. Visit planme.godaddy/usa for more info.

Methodology

HarrisX, commissioned by GoDaddy, conducted the nationally representative study online across the United States with 1,129 U.S. adults and 236 U.S. federal government employees. The interviews were conducted October 9–12, 2025. The sampling margin of error of this poll is ±2.9 percentage points for U.S. adults and ±6.4 percentage points for federal government employees. The survey sample was weighted by age, gender, region, race/ethnicity, and income to align with U.S. census demographics. The federal employee oversample was analyzed separately.