Two federal employees in Detroit, Michigan, call for an end to the government shutdown. Paul Sancya/AP
The partial government shutdown has now entered its third week, and on Friday, an estimated 800,000 federal workers and contractors will not be receiving their paychecks. The shutdown, which began December 22, has affected nine agencies, including services at national parks, immigration courts, and the IRS. Many workers have been furloughed or are working without pay, and thousands have begun applying for unemployment benefits.
While President Donald Trump and the Democrats remain at an impasse over border wall funding, the shutdown has left many federal workers unsure of how they will pay their rent and bills. Government agencies have gone so far as to recommend that workers barter with their landlord and hold garage sales. On Thursday, thousands of federal workers held a protest at the White House to call for an end to the shutdown. As one employee told Mother Jones: “We just want to get back to work. We are frustrated this isn’t resolved. This has gone on just way too long.”
If you are a federal worker or contractor affected by the shutdown, we’d like to hear from you: What does missing a paycheck mean for you and your family? How are you dealing with this situation? Let us know in the form below, send us an email at talk@motherjones.com, or leave us a voicemail at (510) 519-MOJO. We may use some of your responses for a follow-up story.
We’re also taking your questions: What do you wish you better understood about the government shutdown? What would you like us to look into?
