Leading with Compassion: Standing by Our People During the Shutdown
- Rebecca Contreras
- Oct 23
- 3 min read
By Rebecca Contreras
October 23, 2025
When the federal government shut down, over 1 million contract employees across the nation suddenly found themselves without pay. For many, the shutdown wasn’t just a political stalemate — it was a personal financial crisis.
At AvantGarde LLC, nearly half of our workforce has been impacted. Projects were shutdown. Invoices go unpaid. AvantGarde families faced uncertainty overnight. As a small business owner, I knew we couldn’t control Washington — but we could control how we responded.
Choosing Action Over Apathy
In moments like this, leadership is tested not by profit margins or press releases, but by how we show up for our people.
Instead of standing still, my partner and I took action came together and created a zero-interest bridge-loan program — a way to help our employees stay financially afloat during this difficult time.
Funded directly by us, this program gives our affected team members access to short-term, interest-free loans they can repay future through payroll deductions once operations resume.
“Our people are the heart of AvantGarde. While we can’t control when the government reopens, we can control how we show up for our team.”
I decided to speak out and go live on News Nation this week, because I believe it represents something larger than our company. Its about taking a stand, calling for action by Congress, and putting our people first. It’s about leadership that puts people first — leadership that doesn’t wait for permission to do the right thing.
The Human Cost Behind the Headlines
When we talk about the government shutdown, the focus is often on federal employees — and rightly so. But the truth is, there’s another group deeply impacted: contractor employees and the small businesses that employ them. Over 78,000 small businesses are working with the federal government.
Analysts estimate more than one million contractors have seen work suspended or pay withheld. And unlike federal employees, they won’t receive back pay when the government reopens. The income families have lost is gone.
For AvantGarde, that means:
50% of our active federal projects are on shutdown or delayed.
Nearly half of our workforce is on unpaid leave or reduced hours.
Our people are losing more than $200,000 every pay period.
Over $1 million in completed contract work remains unpaid.
These are not abstract numbers. They represent families, rent payments, medical bills, food on the table, and livelihoods.
As I said on News Nation — this isn’t about politics. It’s about the human impact to real people.
“This isn’t about taking sides — it’s about protecting the backbone of America’s workforce, small business.”
Why People Come First
My career began in public service. From my time as Chief Human Capital Officer at the U.S. Department of the Treasury to serving as a Commissioned Officer in the White House, I’ve always believed that leadership is a sacred trust — one that begins and ends with people.
That belief shapes how I lead AvantGarde today. It’s why we chose to act rather than wait. And it’s why I continue to advocate for the small business owners and contract workers who keep our government — and our nation — running every single day.
The Heart of Leadership
I’ve learned over the years that true leadership isn’t about titles or positions — it’s about showing up with empathy, courage, and conviction when it matters most.
In the face of this shutdown, my hope is that more business leaders will look for ways to stand with their teams, however they can. Because when we take care of people first, everything else follows.
“At AvantGarde, we believe that true leadership means caring for people first — always.”
About Rebecca Contreras
Rebecca Contreras is the President and CEO of AvantGarde LLC, a management consulting firm providing human capital, IT, and organizational development solutions to public and private-sector clients. A former White House appointee and senior federal executive, Rebecca brings over 25 years of experience in leadership, workforce transformation, and entrepreneurship. She is also the author of LostGirl: From the Hood to the White House to Millionaire Entrepreneur.
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