On November 13, 2025, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted in Bisnow:
“Nobody wants to be furloughed, but I think this time, the threat seemed more existential for many people,” D.C. Policy Center Executive Director Yesim Sayin said.
“The importance of federal government closure has declined in D.C. because we kind of have bigger problems right now,” Sayin said.
Sayin said the anxiety in the city won’t “diminish to zero,” given the January deadline.
“There is a sigh of relief, for sure, among many, especially those who are vulnerable, depend on the federal government — employees, contractors and whatnot,” she said.
Now that federal employees have somewhat more certainty around their finances and some comfort that their jobs are safe in the near term, consumer spending should see a boost, Sayin said.
“This restoring of back pay and all that can add to some economic activity, because I think the lack of clarity around what will happen to folks during and after the shutdown really impacted consumer behavior,” she said.
The survey, taken two weeks into the shutdown, also showed a general pessimism about the city’s economy, Sayin said. More than 80% of the participants expected a decline in the city’s economic conditions over the next six years.
“We have never seen such low expectations about D.C.’s economy, about the regional economy or the national economy,” she said.
A question included in the D.C. Policy Center’s second-quarter survey highlighted just how strong the connection is between the federal government and the local economy.
In that survey, 69% of business participants said they depend on the federal government for success, Sayin said.
“Those ties run really deep,” she said. “And that’s what we’re seeing in the numbers, is a general pessimism, a negative impact on operations, especially revenue.”
Read More: The Longest Shutdown Ever Is Over. D.C.’s ‘Bigger Problems’ Are Still Here
Additional reading: 2025 State of Business Report: Investing in growth