AFGE

The longer the shutdown goes, the more nerves fray. It’s downright crabby out there.

Federal statute instructs agencies use reductions-in-force (RIFs) if employees have been furloughed for 30 days or longer, but regulations don’t apply to workers furloughed due to a government shutdown.

A federal district judge refused to compel the executive branch to find an immediate end to the government shutdown’s impacts on excepted federal employees working without pay. The judge’s decision maintains the status quo. Other lawsuits challenging the shutdown’s legitimacy are still pending.

In today’s Federal Newscast, Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) wants to know why the National Parks Service reopened the Old Post Office Tower within the D.C. Trump Hotel during the government shutdown.

Hundreds of federal employees rallied in Washington, D.C. on Thursday in protest of the partial government shutdown. The prolonged shutdown is holding their next paychecks, due Jan. 11, “hostage,” employees said.

The National Treasury Employees Union said excepted federal employees who have been working without pay during the partial government shutdown should be paid full wages, including overtime, and other damages.

Furloughed and excepted federal employees said the government shutdown is prompting them to make tough decisions about their bills, mortgage and family obligations.

In today’s Federal Newscast, an alliance of 30 federal employee organizations are urging the president to end the partial government shutdown.

A package of bills from House Democrats would reopen government, provide full-year funding for most federal agencies and give civilian employees a pay raise in 2019.

Several impacted agencies have funding left over to continue to work, but if the shutdown lasts into January more furloughs possible.