Missing Paychecks: The Struggles of Federal Workers
Imagine waiting in line for hours, hoping for a box of food to feed your family, only to find the supplies exhausted before your turn. This is the harsh reality for many federal workers in Prince George's County, home to over 60,000 federal employees. Middle-class professionals, who under normal circumstances would be receiving their paychecks, are now lining up for food donations.
Wanda Bright, a federal employee, experienced this first hand. After a long wait, she finally reached the front of the queue just as the initial batch of supplies ran out. She, like around 700,000 federal workers across America, is currently furloughed. "A lot of us are stressed, and it takes a toll on our mental health," Bright shared. "Some people can handle this. A lot of people cannot."
The Paycheck Crisis
For many federal workers, Friday is typically payday. But instead of receiving their salaries, they are left with empty hands and growing worries. No partial pay. No indication of when their paychecks will resume.
Meanwhile, some have managed to get paid, especially those performing work considered critical. "We got the people that we want paid, paid, OK?" the President had declared last week.
The Sweeping Impact
The situation is dire. Around 1.4 million civilian federal employees across the nation are going without pay. Roughly half of them are furloughed, while the other half, deemed essential, continue to work despite receiving no pay.
The suspension of congressional appropriations has introduced new financial hardships in an already challenging year. "This whole fiscal year — I was worried about my job, worried about getting laid off," shared Jay, a furloughed worker. "Now the reality is setting in when you're not getting checks and you need to provide for your family."
Seeking Financial Relief
Many federal workers earn less than $90,000 a year, with some earning even more struggling as bills begin to pile up. Credit unions, which are commonly used by federal workers, have begun to provide some financial relief. By Wednesday, one Iowa-based Credit Union approved over $55,000 in Government Advance Loans, short-term, interest-free loans, for 32 members affected by the shutdown.
Shutdown's Broader Impact
Because approximately two-thirds of the civilian federal workforce is still working despite the lack of appropriations, the shutdown may not be very evident to many Americans. However, as it continues, its economic effects will start to be felt. For instance, a grocery store near a federal building may see less foot traffic, or a daycare may have fewer children because their parents are furloughed. Over time, communities with higher densities of federal workers could see less overall spending.
"Not everybody feels it yet, but it's actually affecting the broader economy," warns an economic policy expert.
While Congress passed a law in 2019 ensuring back pay for federal employees after a shutdown ends, the President suggested recently that furloughed workers shouldn't count on it. "We're going to see," he said a week into the shutdown. "Most of them are going to get back pay, and we're going to try and make sure of that. But some of them are being hurt very badly and they therefore won't qualify."
An Unequal Playing Field
Across the government, many federal workers are still receiving their regular pay during the shutdown. Salaries for some federal employees do not come out of appropriations that Congress must approve every year. Some 70,000 law enforcement officers are also now being paid from funds allocated last summer. However, many of their colleagues are not getting paid and likely won't be until the shutdown is over, creating an unfair situation among federal employees that grows more tilted as the shutdown continues.
