Shutdown Means No Paychecks for 800,000 Federal Employees

Friday, January 11 marked the first day that 800,000 federal employees began missing paychecks since the federal government shutdown on Dec. 22.
Friday, January 11 marked the first day that 800,000 federal employees began missing paychecks since the federal government shutdown on Dec. 22.

Shutdown Means No Paychecks for 800,000 Federal Employees

About 800,000 federal employees missed their first paycheck of the year starting on Jan. 11, as the partial government shutdown entered Day 21 by the Citizen’s press time. In response, American Federation of Government Employees National President J. David Cox Sr., said, “The federal workers who keep our country safe and deliver vital services to

the American public deserve to be paid. But for 40 percent of the federal workforce, this administration has broken that promise by holding employees’ paychecks hostage over demands for a border wall.

He added, “Our members’ take-home pay is about $500 a week, and many struggle to

make ends meet even without a missed paycheck. This shutdown is putting these workers in the horrible position of trying to figure out how to survive without any income.

“Every day this shutdown continues is another day of increasing anxiety for federal workers and everyone affected by these political games. Federal employees deserve better, and our country deserves better. I urge the Senate to take up legislation passed by the House that would reopen our government and get all of our employees back to work,” Cox stated.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 700,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.

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