In brief
In light of the ongoing US government shutdown, federal workers have voiced their angst, describing their pay as being 'held hostage.' Many employees are either on unpaid leave or working without pay, exacerbating financial insecurity. While some express support for the shutdown’s political implications, others are concerned about their livelihoods and ongoing congressional disputes over budget allocations.
US federal workers have described their state of uncertainty, with many now on unpaid leave due to a government shutdown and one remarking that their salary was being held hostage.
Workers deemed to be essential may still be on duty or at their desks, but they too may not be paid while the shutdown lasts.
A government shutdown is a familiar situation in the US, and can happen whenever Congress fails to vote through an annual budget. This one began on Wednesday, initially sparked by partisan disputes over federal spending and Democratic demands to extend healthcare tax credits.
What makes this shutdown different is the fact that President Donald Trump hopes to use the opportunity to make permanent cuts to government staffing and spending.
BBC News has been speaking to federal workers about their views and how the shutdown has affected them.
Although most comments are anonymous, we have verified the speakers are federal workers to whom speaking to the media can lead to disciplinary action.
'I'm rather conflicted'
The last shutdown was brutal, remarked one federal worker, referencing the impasse in 2018-19 that extended for over a month. It forced me to withdraw money from my retirement plan just to cover my bills. Now, they've made it more difficult to withdraw from our retirement accounts, so if this goes as long as the last shutdown, I don't know how I'll pay my bills.
Despite feeling pressured, another worker, employed by the Department of Homeland Security, expressed support for the shutdown due to concerns over legislative authority. Checks and balances must be maintained, he stated.
Conversely, an Army Corps of Engineers employee described her mixed feelings, welcoming a break from rigorous fiscal year demands but unsure if any productive outcomes would result from the shutdown.
Others like Randall with the Aviation Weather Center lamented, I don't like my pay being held hostage while the government fights over separate issues, questioning the logic of funding cuts affecting services that traditionally receive bipartisan support.
An anonymous US Air Force employee expressed a dire situation, stating, If this is not resolved, I’ll have nothing to live on, a dilemma faced by many who must report to work without pay.
A colleague from the Treasury urged the Democrats to stand firm against budget demands that threaten vital healthcare initiatives.
Additional reporting by Kris Bramwell, Mary Litchfield, Alex Akhurst and Imogen James
