US federal workers are experiencing significant uncertainty due to the current government shutdown, with many placed on unpaid leave. One worker expressed feeling like their salary was being “held hostage,” while others who are considered essential may still be working but without timely pay.
Government shutdowns are a recurring issue in the US, typically occurring when Congress cannot agree on an annual budget. This particular shutdown stems from partisan disagreements over federal spending and Democratic demands for extended healthcare tax credits. President Donald Trump aims to leverage this situation for permanent reductions in government staffing and spending.
Federal employees are generally prohibited from speaking to the media, and those quoted here have been granted anonymity to prevent potential disciplinary action.
One worker, who endured a month-long shutdown in 2018-19, described the current situation as potentially brutal. They explained that the previous shutdown forced them to access their retirement funds to cover bills, and with new restrictions on withdrawals, they are unsure how they will manage financially if this shutdown lasts as long. This individual stated, “I voted for Trump, but I did not vote for his abuses against us.”
Another employee from the Department of Homeland Security in New Jersey, despite working without pay, expressed support for the shutdown. They cited the need to maintain checks and balances on the president’s power, especially after the Supreme Court did not intervene regarding Congress’s power of the purse.
A worker with the Army Corps of Engineers admitted to feeling conflicted, seeing the shutdown as a potential break from a demanding year of shifting guidance and layoff threats. While open to supporting a shutdown if it yields positive results, they expressed doubt about its effectiveness.
Randall from Kansas City, working with the Aviation Weather Center, voiced frustration over pay being used as leverage in political disputes, particularly concerning issues unrelated to their agency’s core functions like weather services.
An anonymous US Air Force employee shared the dire prospect of having no income if the situation persists, highlighting the dilemma of being required to work without pay, as absence would be deemed AWOL.
A Department of the Treasury employee urged Democrats to remain steadfast against President Trump’s party’s spending plans, emphasizing the importance of protecting healthcare and affordability for Americans and stating that job threats would not sway their stance.
Related
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- Why the US government has shut down and what happens now
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