The stop weighs on federal workers

An architect from the Department of Agriculture, the 36-year-old, he recently moved from Portsmouth, Virginia, to Cary, North Carolina, to provide better schools for his son, who has cerebral palsy. His wife stays at home with their four children, including a 4-month-old baby, which means that Mr. Long's salary is their only income.

"We do not go out to eat, we prepare every meal at home. and there were discussions about what we could stop if we needed it and what I could do to generate additional income, "he said. The couple does not expect their home in Virginia to sell in the near future, delaying any financial depreciation that the sale could generate.

For many federal employees, the uncertainty and stress of closure create a sense of helplessness in the face of the prospect. to miss their first full salary on Friday. Approximately 420,000 employees, considered essential, work without pay, while 380,000 federal employees were put on leave without pay. During previous closures, these workers were reimbursed after the resolution of temporary funding deficits, so that they will likely be reimbursed at the reopening of the government.

Russell Vought, acting director of the White House's Office of Management and Budget, announced Monday that the government has taken steps to mitigate the effects of the funding gap. "Our president's mission is to make this closure as painless as possible, according to the law," he said.

President Trump said he would not sign any bill financing the government without allocating more than 5 US dollars. billions for hundreds of miles for a wall along the southwestern border. Democrats in the House have made it clear that they will not accept it and that they will pass a series of bills to reopen sections of the government, although these projects can not be subject to vote in the Senate chamber controlled by the GOP.

Trump said, without providing any evidence, that most federal employees are Democrats and oppose his agenda. At the same time, he also said Sunday that many federal employees not receiving their salary "totally disagree with what I'm doing," later claiming that employees "will make an adjustment because they want that the border is taken care of ". 19659004] During a brief appearance at the White House last week with his president, Art Del Cueto, Arizona border police officer and senior union official who represents border police officers, said that some of his colleagues and himself support Mr. Trump's push for a wall.

"We are all affected by this decision, we have the skin in the game," he said. "However, this concerns border security and we are extremely grateful to President Trump and we fully support what he does to take care of the borders of our country."

Other employees said that the closure made them question their previous support. from Mr. Trump.

For over 15 years, Lloyd Gardner has worked for the Bureau of Prisons, where he is now a unit advisor in a reduced security prison in Loretto, Pennsylvania. Mr. Gardner, 47, voted for Mr. Trump. in 2016 and supports the idea of ​​a border fence, but he said that he could no longer vote for the president.

"It's the breaking point. He says that officials agree with that? I did not meet anyone who agreed, and I know many who voted for him, "he said.

Larry Hand, an employee of the San Francisco-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration, said he disagrees with many of Trump's positions, he favors a wall along the southern border – but not because of a lack of funding. "I still have to think: Well, maybe it's a good idea, but it's rather ridiculous to block the government for what it's done," he said.

Nine of the 15 federal agencies have been affected by the current closure, while the rest of the government is funded and functioning without change.

Federal employees working without pay or not working at all are wondering how they could cover rent and other expenses in February when they are not ".

"I am constantly afraid of being able to take care of my family because I am the only support for my family at home," said Suhailah Stevenson, who works in the field of human resources for the Department of Homeland Security.

. Stevenson, who is 39 and lives in Woodbridge, Va., Pays several late bills for January and does not know what she will do in February.

"I am in a state of doubt, I am in a state of anxiety, I do not know what I should do, I do not know if I should go and apply for unemployment, I do not know if I should apply for another job, "she said.

Write to Natalie Andrews ([email protected]) and Andrew Duehren ([email protected])

Corrections and Amplifications
Lloyd Gardner Works for the Bureau of Prisons at a low security prison in Loretto, Pennsylvania. An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated Loretta.