- Title: Federal workers learn their fate as workweek begins in U.S. shutdown
- Date: 22nd January 2018
- Summary: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES (JANUARY 22, 2018) (REUTERS) WIDE OF STREET WITH LIGHT TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF THE U.S. CAPITOL BUILDING WIDE OF CLOSED SIGN OUTSIDE OF U.S. NATIONAL ARCHIVES BUILDING SIGN READING "The National Archives Building is closed due to the Federal Government shutdown" TOURISTS TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR AT THE AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM BEFORE WALKING OVER AND READING SIGN SIGN READING: "Food Court temporarily closed" SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON ESCALATOR AT WHAT IS TYPICALLY ONE OF THE BUSIEST SUBWAY STOPS IN WASHINGTON (SOUNDBITE) (English) EMILY SUSSMAN, CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR FOR THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS SAYING: "Even just walking around today I noticed there's a whole bunch of staffers outside the entrance who can't figure out who is going to be open or not. The Library of Congress has a sign that they are totally shut down and staff don't have access to anything. So, I mean it does appear that the government is truly not functioning." WOMAN READING SIGN OUTSIDE THE U.S. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CLOSEUP OF SIGN ABOUT SHUTDOWN EMPTY CORRIDOR IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SIGN ABOUT SHORTENED HOURS DUE TO SHUTDOWN OUTSIDE A CONGRESSIONAL CAFETERIA FOUR PEOPLE SEATED IN EMPTY CAFETERIA PEOPLE WALKING DOWN EMPTY HALLWAY CONGRESSIONAL BARBER SHOP WITH BLINDS CLOSED SIGN READING "Due to a lapse in appropriations, the Barbershop will be closed until further notice." (SOUNDBITE) (English) MARK ALLEN, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE U. S. CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER SAYING: "The federal government is on furlough and I am not essential personnel so... REPORTER (OFF CAMERA) ASKS: 'How do you feel about it?' SAYING: "It happens. I mean, you know, I know I'm not essential. The government can function without me. It's nice to have a job, but the government can function without me." (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAURA HULL COFFIELD, RETIRED LIBRARIAN WHO WORKED AT THE FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY SAYING: "With Trump being our president, I think that he set the wrong tone and I think that is becoming the norm and it's unacceptable, at least to me." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAURA HULL COFFIELD, RETIRED LIBRARIAN WHO WORKED AT THE FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY SAYING: "I just don't know how the people that work for the government can put up with all of the...um... I will use the word crap." (SOUNDBITE) (English) REPRESENTATIVE PAUL MITCHELL (REPUBLICAN - MICHIGAN) SAYING: "It's unfortunate. It is unnecessary but I think the Senate should get their act together, particularly the Democrats, and fund the government so that we can move to the other issues that are hanging there. There are issues to deal with, but holding everyone hostage is not the way to do it." (SOUNDBITE) (English) EMILY SUSSMAN, CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR FOR THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS SAYING: "I mean I think it's ridiculous. I think the fact like we're having a blame game right now when Republicans clearly control every branch of government and yet they're trying to say they're not in control. It feels like insulting to regular people." WIDE OF U.S. CAPITOL BUILDING
- Embargoed: 5th February 2018 16:33
- Keywords: shutdown congress Democrats Republicans Donald Trump
- Location: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0017Z72M9Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands of federal employees began the week on Monday (January 22) trying to figure out if they would be working and getting paid, as U.S. Senate leaders tried to reach a deal to reopen the government open hours before a full Senate vote.
Pentagon officials said more than half the Defense Department's civilian workers will be furloughed. A spokeswoman for the Portsmouth Naval Yard did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The federal Office of Personnel Management warned on Twitter it may not be able to provide updates on the government's operating status on its social media accounts due to the shutdown.
The Smithsonian Museum said on its website that its District of Columbia museums, research centers and the National Zoo will remain open on Monday using existing funds, but their status beyond then was uncertain.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt instructed all staff to work this week, telling employees in an email over the weekend that the agency has enough resources to remain open for a limited amount of time.
During shutdowns, non-essential government employees are furloughed, or placed on temporary unpaid leave. Those deemed essential, including those in public safety and national security, keep working.
The last shutdown in October 2013 lasted more than two weeks, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will continue to process applications more than 800,000 federal employees were furloughed.
There is no official tally of how many would be furloughed this time. But local economies could suffer in communities where thousands of non-essential personnel are likely to be temporarily off the job - from Norfolk, Virginia, and Fayetteville, North Carolina, to Lakewood, Washington, and Oceanside, California. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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