When the federal government shuts down, the public sees closed monuments, unpaid workers, and halted programs. What they do not see is the silent surge of cyberattacks targeting agencies already operating on fumes. During the most recent shutdown, attacks against U.S. government systems spiked by nearly 85%.

Cybersecurity failures during government disruptions rarely start with code. They start with people under stress. Furloughed workers, unpaid contractors, delayed upgrades, and distracted managers create the perfect storm for social engineering and insider exploitation. The intersection of operational disruption and human vulnerability has become one of the most dangerous frontiers in government cybersecurity.