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The government shutdown and its effect on federal prison. Federal Prison Tips founder Kyle Sandler was an inmate in federal prison during two government shutdowns here’s the true effect on federal prison

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I Was An Inmate In Federal Prison During 2 Government Shutdowns

The government shutdown today October 1, 2025 which isn’t new there have been 5 government shutdowns in the last 10 years and I was personally an inmate in federal prison during two of them.

The most notable was in 2018 which was featured on the front page of USA Today on January 4, 2019 after inmates were served their typical meal of Cornish hen (or what they want to call cornish hen) and steak (a fancy piece of roast beef) for Christmas and New Years respectively. USA Today put the headline below on the front page with a gigantic shot of the Federal Correctional Complex in Coleman Florida.

So the first thing to understand if you’re not familiar with politics or the federal government is that this is something that happens pretty regularly and it happens around this time of year because October 1st is the first day of the federal government’s fiscal year.

Life For Federal Inmates During A Shutdown

Federal Correctional officers and Federal Prison staff are considered “essential personnel” so while many secretaries and support staff members at agencies across the country are on “furlough” or getting unpaid days off, the BOP employees must report to work.

That means the essential functions of the federal prison system will still occur. But one thing to consider is even in the midst of the government shutdown the BOP is already short staffed across the country. Lockdowns are already happening because staff is short. Now there may be a group of employees that decide to disobey orders and not report to work which would effect the day to day lives of inmates with more lockdowns and less essential resources. It’s a fact of life in federal prison.

However, at FPC Montgomery and then FCI Butner, things pretty much continued as normal during the shutdown.

Transit May Slow Down

Transit, or the transfer of inmates from place to place may slow down but it won’t stop. Between the BOP and the Marshall service, despite being essential, there may be employees who don’t show up for work, slowing the process. Inmates should be prepared for this. However it won’t stop altogether.

Court Goes On

The Courts are still open. There may be less support staff and paperwork and docketing could slow down but hearings will still happen.

You Must Self Report

If you’re scheduled to self report during the “government shutdown” you must still report as normal or you run the risk of being considered “escaped” the government shutdown will not affect your report date or self reporting in any way.

To read the USA Today piece from 2019 click here.