Unemployment assistance denied to "essential" federal workers

The response of the Department of Labor at Bowser's request Monday fell on the 27th day of the partial closure of the government, the longest in the history of the United States. Most of the federal employees who are needed and fired have missed their first paycheque last Friday, and will miss their second check if legislators fail to reach a consensus in time for the government to compile the payroll at midnight on Tuesday.

Dismissed employees can apply for unemployment in Washington. . But employees considered essential – who must work without pay during the closure – can not currently claim unemployment benefits. In a press release issued by Bowser, 7,548 federal workers and contractors in Washington applied for benefits.

"We are worried, it's frustrating, it's worrying." "Bottoms said in an interview on Thursday." We are organizing one of the most important and most watched events in the world in a few weeks and we are really worried that our airport will be operational and will operate in such a way that it will not be able to do so. it is necessary. "

Bottoms added that the city had considered paying some employees of the Transportation Security Administration through the city's airport fund, but had been informed that it was not

California Governor Gavin Newsom told employees of the TSA Thursday in Sacramento that he had received a "Jaw Drop and Extraordinary" letter from the ministry telling eight states, including California, that They can not pay unemployment benefits to essential federal employees.

"The good news is that we are going to do it, and that we should be ashamed of them" "They are threatening us essentially to do what we do. That's why I'm here to say we're going to do it. "