Tag: federal workers

Workers Fear Another Trump Shutdown: ‘It’s Agonizing’

While Democrats work to find a bipartisan solution for effective border security and to keep the government open, Trump continues to threaten to shut down the government over his ineffective wall. Just yesterday, Mike Pence refused to guarantee federal workers would not face another shutdown. Workers are still struggling to recover from his 35-day shutdown — the longest in our history — and Trump’s threats have them worried about missing another paycheck.

Here are real stories of families hurt by the Trump Shutdown, and who fear Trump will do it again:

“It’s agonizing. That’s the best word I can use.” – Federal contractor

“I don’t know if we can do this a second time.” – Federal worker Continue reading “Workers Fear Another Trump Shutdown: ‘It’s Agonizing’”

REALITY CHECK: Trump Admin Once Again Writes Off Workers Hurt By The Shutdown

At the press briefing today, Trump’s top economic advisor once again wrote off the concerns of workers hurt by the Trump Shutdown, lied about the significant damage it did to the economy, and suggested that Trump could shut down the government again.

Larry Kudlow said “I honestly don’t know” if the White House supports back pay for contractors.

REALITY: Federal contractors across the country have been devastated by the effects of the Trump Shutdown.

“The estimate of what I’ve lost financially due to the shutdown is upwards of $3,500. The anxiety, sleeplessness and depression make it feel like much more.” – Federal contractor

“While I love being a contractor, I hate the uncertainty that’s come with it. This happened to us last year on a smaller scale, but this year’s shutdown has me concerned for my future and welfare.” – Federal contractor

“We were scraping pennies and nickels together one day to get the baby a Happy Meal. It’s just that bad.” – Federal contractor

Larry Kudlow: “The switch goes back on. No permanent damage to the economy.”

REALITY: Federal workers are struggling from the lasting impacts of the shutdown – which permanently cost the economy $3 billion.

Federal worker who had to pay a 10% penalty to tap into his retirement funds during the shutdown: “It pretty much just pushes my family back.”

“I’m a little nervous after missing 30 plus days… It’s been almost a month since we’ve gotten paid.” – Federal worker

“Morale is slowly decreasing every day. It’s really hard for controllers to maintain 100 percent awareness when they’re thinking about mortgage payments and child care payments.” – Federal worker

Larry Kudlow on Trump shutting down the government again in three weeks: “We’ll see what happens.”

REALITY: Workers still reeling from the 35-day Trump Shutdown are stressed about Trump shutting the government down again.

“They’re throwing us a rope. They’ll throw us that rope, we’ll catch it, and in a few weeks, they’re just going to pull it from us again.” – Federal worker

“That just means that we’ll be fighting again in three weeks for the same thing.” – Federal worker

“It feels like we are still hostages. I’m just so happy to be going back to work and to be able to get on with our lives because I need our health insurance to fill these prescriptions. But who knows if this will all happen again in three weeks.” – Federal contractor

Shutdown ends but its damage will last

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-NY Credit: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

CQ Homeland Security Editor Patrick B. Pexton discusses the details of the deal between President Donald Trump and lawmakers to end the shutdown. Max Stier, president of the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service, says it has done lasting damage to the civil service and that Congress must never allow it to happen again.

OUT OF TOUCH: Trump Admin Doesn’t Understand Why Furloughed Workers Can’t Afford To Eat

Trump and his White House are extremely out of touch with the workers whose paychecks they are holding hostage.

Wilbur Ross said he doesn’t “really quite understand” why workers are needing to go to food banks during the Trump Shutdown.

Wilbur Ross: “I know there are and I don’t really quite understand why. Because as I mentioned before, the obligations that they would undertake, say borrowing from a bank or a credit union, are in effect federally guaranteed.”

Wilbur Ross suggested it wouldn’t be a big deal if 800,000 workers never got their paychecks because the GDP impact was not a “gigantic number overall.”

Wilbur Ross: “You’re talking about 800,000 workers. And while I feel sorry for the individuals that have hardship cases, 800,000 workers, if they never got their pay – which is not the case, they will eventually get it – but if they never got it, you’re talking about a third of a percent on our GDP. So it’s not like it’s a gigantic number overall.” Continue reading “OUT OF TOUCH: Trump Admin Doesn’t Understand Why Furloughed Workers Can’t Afford To Eat”