scorecard
  1. Home
  2. Politics
  3. Federal employees affected by the government shutdown are using the hashtag #ShutdownStories to share their experiences online

Federal employees affected by the government shutdown are using the hashtag #ShutdownStories to share their experiences online

Mariana Alfaro   

Federal employees affected by the government shutdown are using the hashtag #ShutdownStories to share their experiences online
Politics3 min read

government shutdown

AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

The Capitol Christmas tree is seen outside of The U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018.

  • All around the country, federal workers impacted by the current government shutdown took to Twitter to share their #shutdownstories.
  • Many federal workers said they're concerned about how they will cover bills and Christmas expenses with no paychecks. 
  • Others, including a DACA recipient, said they are worried the lack of services might affect their day-to-day lives. 

The day after the government shut down, Taylor Futch, a stay-at-home mother of two in Tennessee, took to Twitter to vent: 

"My husband is a Park Ranger in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and he had to sign his furlough papers," she wrote. "We don't know when his next check will come. Mortgage is due, Christmas 2 days away." 

In follow up tweets, Futch thanked those offering advice and support. She and her husband, she tweeted, didn't vote for Trump. But now, like nearly 800,000 federal workers and their families around the country, they're facing the consequences of a Trump administration shut down. 

Many federal workers and their family members used the hashtag #shutdownstories on Twitter to share how the government shutdown is hurting them this holiday season. Though many of those participating were federal workers, regular Americans also pitched in, saying the lack of federal services is also impacting their lives. 

A DACA recipient shared that he was worried he wouldn't be able to renew his permit. 

A user whose city was ravaged by the Carr Fire said the area where the fire started is now unattended due to the shutdown.

Another user said the shutdown will also affect new government hires waiting for their background checks to clear. 

Some shared stories of the good deeds they're doing to help out government employees.   

Another user pointed out that, even though employees deemed essential will get retroactively paid after the shutdown, the government won't be able to cover many of the related costs workers are incurring. 

Read more: 

READ MORE ARTICLES ON


Advertisement

Advertisement