BISMARCK – The North Dakota Industrial Commission is supporting North Dakota’s federal employees who are furloughed as a part of the federal government shutdown.
The Commission has approved a short-term, low-interest loan program for federal government employees in the state and those members of the U.S. Armed Forces who are stationed in North Dakota. The program is being administered by the Bank of North Dakota.
The Furloughed Federal Employee Relief Program, or FFERP, will provide loans at a two percent interest rate to cover base net pay for those eligible. The coverage will be for up to three months and addresses federal hardships that may be faced by federal employees.
“While the federal government is shuttered, active-duty military and federal employees in North Dakota still have bills to pay, and this program offers a bridge loan to help keep them afloat until the federal government reopens and provides employees back pay as required by law,” stated the Industrial Commission in a joint statement. “Not paying federal employees creates a chain reaction which impacts day care providers, car and housing payments, and daily needs such as buying medicine and groceries.”
The Industrial Commission, consisting of Gov. Kelly Armstrong as chairman, Attorney General Drew Wrigley and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, oversees BND.
FFERP will be delivered through local banks and credit unions with the application period opening on Friday, Oct. 10. To be eligible for the program, employees must present identification and their most recent paystub to their local lender. The program will end on Jan. 9, 2026, or when Congress passes a funding bill to reopen.
