Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic
Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure; Human Factors
Aircraft X called for an IFR clearance. I issued the clearance and Aircraft X read back the clearance correctly; then taxied to the run-up area. After approximately 10 minutes; Aircraft Y called ready for taxi. I issued the taxi instructions and passed a VFR chip to the Local Controller. Aircraft Y was cleared for takeoff without receiving an IFR release because the Local Controller thought that he was VFR. After Aircraft Y tagged up on the radar; the Local Controller realized that Aircraft Y was on an IFR flight plan. The Local Controller then coordinated with TRACON and provided visual separation with the IFR arrival that was on a 3 mile final. I made a simple mistake that I normally would have caught because I was distracted. I was thinking about what I could cut out of my budget or possibly sell in order to make next month's mortgage payment. If it continues much longer; I might have to get a second job. Normally I am very focused at work; but the shutdown has caused me to be increasingly distracted over the past month.
Tower Ground Controller reported incorrect coordination with Local Control that an aircraft on an IFR flight plan was a VFR flight due to being distracted by the government shutdown.