A purchasing agent with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke says she can’t pay all of her bills.
One federal worker couple says they might soon pursue unemployment.
A program officer at the National Institutes of Health said she feels that her work has basically gone down the drain.
These are just some of the effects the shutdown is having on Maryland’s federal workers around the region.
“The Trump administration has demonized federal workers and talked about how “we’re lazy, we’re useless,” said the NIH program officer, a Silver Spring resident who said she thinks it seems more like officials in Washington are lazy and useless. “If my fellow executive branch workers were that inefficient, we would have been fired long ago.”
The federal shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, has sent hundreds of thousands of federal employees home. Other employees are required to work, but they all must wait for any backpay that might be coming. Capital News Service spoke with several who requested anonymity for fear of being targeted by their employer.
One NIH contract specialist said she has a good amount of savings, but is still worried about her next paycheck. She expressed concern about not receiving backpay.
This has also been a point of concern for other furloughed workers. An Office of Management and Budget memo published by several media outlets this week said the 2019 law guaranteeing backpay may not apply to those on furlough.
“I’m worried that I’m not going to have my next paycheck, because as of right now, we don’t know how long this shutdown lasts, it could be next week, but also it could be next month, so at this time, I’m trying to be more conservative with what I spend my money on,” she said.
Some workers are concerned about how to pay for their most basic needs.
“We, like a lot of working professionals, live month to month, and there’s concern about income, concern about future employment and just a lot of concern about how the bills are going to get paid,” said a Washington County man who was furloughed from his job as a General Services Administration analyst. “We’re not in immediate danger right this moment, but certainly, you know, we’re having to think in very short order about how we’re going to take care of things.”
The man said his wife is still being paid for her work as a federal contractor.
Delegate Nicole Williams, a Democrat, said she’s seen worry from her constituents and other Marylanders about when the shutdown will end.
Those whom she’s talked to have said they’ll be fine if the shutdown doesn’t last too long, but are worried about running out of money to pay for food and housing if it lasts longer.
“You know, you still have to eat, whether you’re working or not,” said Williams, whose district encompasses part of Prince George’s County. “You know, you still have to pay your mortgage. You still have to pay all of your other bills.”
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The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke purchasing agent said she’s renting out her Hyattsville condo and moving in with her mother as a way to make money during her furlough. She is also providing care to her mother, who has dementia.
The 55-year-old agent has two mortgages, as well as other expenses like a car payment.
“I paid all of my biggest bills this month in advance so that I could make it through this month at least,” she said. “But there are going to be bills that don’t get paid this month.”
