Any other feds prepping for a shutdown?

[Bernadine]

Our agency has started, at a high-level.  Uuuuugh.  I don't remember prepping this much prior to the shutdown two years ago.

[tacosforlife]

We've heard nothing.

I will seriously lose my shit.

[eclaires]

MH's work is always slightly behind the Feds when shutdown talks start because they are funded by DOE but generally have enough funds from the previous year to run for about 1m-6w.

I haven't heard any rumblings yet but usually we start hearing about it from the director of the lab when talks of shutdown start up even though they can weather it for awhile once the shutdown occurs. I think last time it was further into September when we got the first info about it.

[Deleted]

I haven't heard anything. Is this about defunding Planned Parenthood?

[Scout'sHonor]

I haven't heard anything either.

[Bernadine]

Aug 26, 2015 10:38:25 GMT -5 @queequeg said:

I haven't heard anything. Is this about defunding Planned Parenthood?

Idk.

And I wasn't in this type of position last year at this time, so I don't know how these preparations compare.

The whole thing is just ridiculous.  It's terrible if we do shut down, and such a huge waste of time and resources to prepare if we don't shut down.  How can we operate like this?

[Scout'sHonor]

I will be pissed if it happens again. I'm contract and we didn't get back pay and I had to use up all my vacation.

[bowies]

I think shutdown prep is happening earlier because of the lessons learned from the last time.

I still don't understand why the Rs think this is an effective strategy.

[downtoearth]

Our fed (we are a contractor to them) joked about it last week. But we aren't prepping yet.

[Deleted]

DH just accepted a federal job. I suggested he set his start date later. ;P

[simpsongal]

Honestly, it has not been discussed. Have there been rumblings of stupidity on the Hill?

[Bernadine]

Aug 26, 2015 12:20:58 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

Honestly, it has not been discussed. Have there been rumblings of stupidity on the Hill?

I just read up- apparently, Cruz is leading the charge on defunding Planned Parenthood, and tying it to a potential shutdown.

[gretchenindisguise]

I haven't been paying enough attention. Do people think it's really a possibility? Give me a percentage.

[Bernadine]

Aug 26, 2015 12:44:28 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

I haven't been paying enough attention. Do people think it's really a possibility? Give me a percentage.

I have no idea.  Some article on Forbes had the percentage at 60.

[ESF]

I only spent one September working for the feds, and it was a month were there was no real concern of a shutdown, but people in my office told me that it could happen. I think some people who have been at the feds forever just mention it every year out of habit, not because there's a real threat.

That said, I do think the threat is very real this year.

[Velvetshady]

DH hasn't heard any rumblings about prep in his office yet.

I have heard that it's been brought up in meetings with some DoD leadership-level people from our executives.

[curbsideprophet]

I have not heard anything but that does not really mean anything in my office.

[simpsongal]

Ugh, I take it back, my CW said it's been coming up in Committee hearings for 2 months. She said it's not looking good but we'll see when they reconvene.

[fuckyourcouch]

We haven't heard a word about it, but I also don't know if it matters for my office.

And yes, it is Ted cruz's trifling dumb ass fault.

[aussiecrush]

First official information came out this week for H. They are an essential agency, so they are preparing to work without pay. With the budget and debt ceiling so close together I think we are looking at a tough fall.

[stato]

Preparations for shut down insomuch as the drafting of a shut down plan are done as a matter of course at the end of each recent fiscal year (or expiry of a CR). OMB asked for my agency's plan to be submitted by August 6; we just took the one we'd done for last year and updated it. I think they are asking for it earlier and earlier lately because of 2013 and because of rumblings re: Planned Parenthood. The fact that plans are being dusted off at a high level isn't in itself a cause for concern, though.

That said, Cruz is threatening shut down over PP to some extent, but McConnell and others in leadership are saying they won't let it happen. After the debacle that was 2013, I can't imagine it will, particularly this close to an election year. That assumes some modicum of logic is being exercised by Congress though, so....

[pumpkin]

We've heard not a thing about this; then again our office has THE worst ability to communicate about all things.

I still had to work during the last shut down and would presume that would remain the same. Though my bank account is not prepared for the possibility.

[elleblue]

Aug 26, 2015 11:03:52 GMT -5 bowies said:

I still don't understand why the Rs think this is an effective strategy.

I actually don't think they do, they know it accomplishes nothing, but they enjoy the posturing and "hard line stance" they can claim they took. Hopefully their constituents can see through this and get really mad this time around. 

[zoidberg]

I haven't heard anything, but we are pretty insulated from that kind of thing because of the way our funding is.

[msmerymac]

Aug 26, 2015 16:21:50 GMT -5 elleblue said:

Aug 26, 2015 11:03:52 GMT -5 bowies said:

I still don't understand why the Rs think this is an effective strategy.

I actually don't think they do, they know it accomplishes nothing, but they enjoy the posturing and "hard line stance" they can claim they took. Hopefully their constituents can see through this and get really mad this time around. 

I don't think 95% of voters care, actually. Or remember. So they feel they can get away with it without consequence. 

[elleblue]

Aug 26, 2015 17:15:26 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Aug 26, 2015 16:21:50 GMT -5 elleblue said:

I actually don't think they do, they know it accomplishes nothing, but they enjoy the posturing and "hard line stance" they can claim they took. Hopefully their constituents can see through this and get really mad this time around. 

I don't think 95% of voters care, actually. Or remember. So they feel they can get away with it without consequence. 

I'm sure you're right. Apathy will be the death of this country.  (wilted)

[Velvetshady]

Aug 26, 2015 17:15:26 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Aug 26, 2015 16:21:50 GMT -5 elleblue said:

I actually don't think they do, they know it accomplishes nothing, but they enjoy the posturing and "hard line stance" they can claim they took. Hopefully their constituents can see through this and get really mad this time around. 

I don't think 95% of voters care, actually. Or remember. So they feel they can get away with it without consequence. 

I don't think "care" feels quite right. I think 95% believe that Feds are lazy and get too good of a deal in benefits at some level so they think shutting the Govt down screws over the Feds that they believe didn't get hit by the recent depression. I don't think they are all at the same level as Cruz, but I think most are okay with Feds getting screwed around with some.

[msmerymac]

Aug 26, 2015 17:24:31 GMT -5 Velvetshady said:

Aug 26, 2015 17:15:26 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

I don't think 95% of voters care, actually. Or remember. So they feel they can get away with it without consequence. 

I don't think "care" feels quite right. I think 95% believe that Feds are lazy and get too good of a deal in benefits at some level so they think shutting the Govt down screws over the Feds that they believe didn't get hit by the recent depression. I don't think they are all at the same level as Cruz, but I think most are okay with Feds getting screwed around with some.

You have a point. But let's also remember that 8% of Americans either "don't think" or "aren't sure" that Hawaii is part of the US (re: surveys about Obama's birth certificate). I don't count on most people to really notice. Or to tie that sort of action and it's consequences to a political party. People like what's currently the next shiny thing, which by this time next year will be something other than shutting down the government for dumb reasons.

[eclaires]

Aug 26, 2015 17:41:00 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

Aug 26, 2015 17:24:31 GMT -5 Velvetshady said:

I don't think "care" feels quite right. I think 95% believe that Feds are lazy and get too good of a deal in benefits at some level so they think shutting the Govt down screws over the Feds that they believe didn't get hit by the recent depression. I don't think they are all at the same level as Cruz, but I think most are okay with Feds getting screwed around with some.

But if you give everyone back pay, whether they were working or not, then really what was the point. And yes, many people were screwed in the waiting process, but eventually everyone got paid. And some agencies gave the people who were actually working comp time hour for hour. So they got paid and got tons of leave. So again. What was the point? Did the Feds really get screwed?

There was no point. Cruz is a moron.

[forreals]

No talk. Because I am sure we will just have to work with the special bonus of not getting paid. So glad my husband and I are both Feds... We work for two totally different agencies but both of us are in the same boat when it comes to work with delayed pay.