As the U.S. government faces a shutdown, approximately 750,000 of the more than 2 million federal employees have been furloughed, raising significant anxiety about financial stability and the impact on public service.
The shutdown began on October 1, a direct result of Congress failing to approve a spending bill, marking the first lapse in federal funding in nearly seven years.
Many federal workers are expressing their concerns about the prolonged effects of the shutdown on their lives and job performance.
James Kirwan, an attorney with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the legislative affairs director for the agency’s union, is among those currently furloughed.
Kirwan shared his apprehension about the uncertainty of when he will receive pay again.
“No pay has me anxious because none of us have any idea how long the shutdown is going to go on for. It could be weeks, or it could be a short shutdown,” he stated, having been with the NLRB for three years.
He is particularly concerned for those in the federal workforce earning less than $50,000, as well as for federal contractors who lack any guarantee of back pay.
The looming possibility of drawing on credit cards for daily expenses weighs heavily on him, with the fear that a lengthy shutdown would result in increasing debt.
“Like many Americans, I have very little in the way of emergency funds and savings, and I know I would not be able to hold on if it’s a very long shutdown,” Kirwan conveyed.
Despite the financial strain, Kirwan emphasized his dedication to public service, indicating he would endure the hardships if it meant bolstering the integrity of his agency.
“While taking on that additional debt and loans is certainly painful, if it results in jobs and my agency being saved and strengthened, I’ll take that deal any day,” he asserted.
The White House has responded to the concerns of federal workers, attributing the shutdown to congressional Democrats.
A White House spokesperson urged Democrats to resolve the impasse by supporting a funding proposal they previously endorsed.
In response to this claim, the office of Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader and Democrat from New York, did not immediately issue a comment.
MT Snyder, also from the NLRB and a member of the agency’s union, highlighted how the shutdown has halted justice for employees facing workplace disputes.
She emphasized that investigations into unfair labor practices have been suspended, leaving workers who have been unlawfully terminated with no recourse.
“Everything is stopped, so workers who were illegally fired don’t have any recourse because there is nowhere else to go beside the NLRB,” Snyder explained.
The emotional toll of not being able to effectively perform her job further compounds her frustration.
“As federal workers, we don’t have any say. We are not in Congress making choices, but we get the outcome of it and feel those effects,” Snyder stated.
This sentiment resonates deeply among federal workers who feel powerless during the ongoing crisis.
Prior to the shutdown, the NLRB had posted a notice indicating that hearings concerning unfair labor practices slated for October 1 or later would be indefinitely postponed.
Another federal employee, who works for the Department of Veterans Affairs, also shared her experience of the shutdown, opting for anonymity due to concerns about repercussions.
Despite being one of the employees who are still working, she acknowledged the pervasive decline in morale that the shutdown fosters among federal workers.
She maintains that her department has allocated sufficient funds to ensure she continues to receive her paycheck, but the overarching environment of instability remains troubling.
“We deserve job security, dignity and respect, and this just feels like an extension of what was already occurring,” she remarked, referring to prior layoffs under the Trump administration.
She expressed her concerns about stress levels within the workforce, attributing them to the ongoing uncertainty of the government shutdown.
“It is not a good way to live, and there is a moral injury that comes with being a federal worker right now. People are stressed,” she noted.
Despite these challenges, she reaffirmed her commitment to a career in public service, stating, “In no way am I considering leaving the federal government. I entered to retire from the federal government and I intend to do just that.”
As the shutdown continues, these employees’ stories reflect the broader implications of political decisions on the lives of thousands of public servants and the communities they serve.
The situation raises significant questions about the future of government operations, the security of federal employment, and the essential services that American citizens depend on.
Without a resolution in sight, the impact of the shutdown on both federal workers and the American public remains uncertain.
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