How The Shutdown Is Affecting Federal Workers And Services

Key Takeaways

The federal government shutdown enters its seventh day, affecting services and an estimated 750,000 furloughed workers.
Many federal employees are working without pay; essential services, including active-duty military, continue operations.
White House layoff warnings and grant freezes are perceived as pressure tactics amid a congressional stalemate.
White House actions face legal challenges, with labor unions filing lawsuits over threatened layoffs.
Uncertainty surrounds back pay for furloughed federal workers, contrary to a 2019 law, due to an OMB FAQ update.

The federal government shutdown is in its seventh day, with no resolution in sight from Capitol Hill.
Some federal employees, such as an estimated 45,000 out of 50,000 Social Security Administration staff, are working without pay.
Other agencies, like the Commerce Department, have largely furloughed staff, with approximately 80% sent home.
Essential personnel, including those in Homeland Security and active-duty military, continue working across agencies.

The shutdown is leading to service degradation, with the Hollywood Burbank airport's control tower being unmanned for hours due to FAA air traffic control shortages.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is also expected to experience service degradation as the shutdown continues.
While VA medical centers and crisis hotlines remain operational, some VA benefits offices and counseling services are closed.

The White House's warnings of mass layoffs have not materialized for appropriations-funded agencies, though the fee-funded U.S. Patent and Trademark Office did announce layoffs.
Labor unions have filed lawsuits, asserting that the layoff threats constitute an abuse of power.
President Trump and OMB Director Russell Vogt cannot unilaterally order layoffs, as a formal reduction in force process with specific procedures and notice periods is required.

Congress remains in a stalemate, with Democrats seeking negotiations on Affordable Care Act subsidies and limits on the Office of Management and Budget's power.
The White House is applying pressure by freezing federal grants in Chicago and New York and touting grant cancellations in states Trump lost in 2016.
Federal workers, including Jenna Norton from NIH, have adopted a defiant stance, urging Democrats not to concede to White House demands.

A draft memo from the White House Office of Management and Budget suggests furloughed federal workers might not automatically receive pay after the shutdown, despite a 2019 law to the contrary.
The OMB updated its FAQ, removing prior assurances of back pay for furloughed employees, a change perceived by federal workers as a scare tactic.
An NPR PBS News Marist poll indicates public opinion initially places more blame for the shutdown on Republicans, who control both the White House and Congress.