Government Shutdown: What It Could Mean for Wyoming

TLDR

If the federal government shutdown continues, Wyoming could see economic losses of about $113 million per month, increased unemployment, delayed federal benefits, and reduced support for families and small businesses. Around 8,000 federal workers in Wyoming may be directly impacted.

What You Need to Know

• 📉 Economic impact: Wyoming’s economy could shrink by about $26 million per week of shutdown, equal to about $113 million per month.
• 👷 Jobs: About 100 jobs could be lost in Wyoming if the shutdown lasts a month. Roughly 8,000 federal employees may be furloughed or working without pay.
• 🧾 Federal benefits:
  • SNAP (food assistance): Continues for ~30 days before facing disruption; about 27,000 Wyoming residents (11,000 children) are enrolled.
  • Social Security: Seniors who receive paper checks (~700 people) may face delays.
  • WIC program: Funding stops immediately; Wyoming has about 8,000 recipients, with reserves possibly running out within the first week.
• 🏪 Small business: SBA loan distributions are paused. Wyoming businesses may see about $6 million in delayed loans in one month of shutdown.
• 📉 Federal contracts: Estimated $13 million in federal contract spending could stop in Wyoming during a one-month shutdown.
• 🛒 Consumer spending: With federal employees unpaid, Wyoming could see $62 million less in consumer spending per month.

---

Local Perspective

Wyoming leaders have raised concerns about the wide reach of these impacts — from households to small businesses to state revenues. Federal benefits, which many families rely on, could be disrupted quickly if the shutdown extends.

For Evanston and Uinta County, the effects could be felt in reduced consumer spending, slowed small-business lending, and uncertainty for residents who rely on SNAP or WIC.

Letter from Wyoming Senate President Bo Biteman: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Wyoming-Statement.pdf

Economic Impacts of the Government Shutdown in Wyoming: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/WY-Shutdown-One-Pager.pdf