Shutdown WTF

[rubytue]

Wait.. what?! Post is implying it seems likely. 

www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/09/21/congress-shutdown-debt-ceiling/

[seeyalater52]

Oh yeah in all the craziness today I forgot to report that Congress is completely falling apart.

To be fair I think it’s likely they’ll pull a CR out of their ass at the last minute like they usually do but given the advancement of the physical infrastructure bill over the objections of leaderships and, well, everyone but like 10 moderates, all leverage has been lost on the reconciliation package so I imagine Pelosi has some master plan to fix it* that most likely involves the debt ceiling.

* please god let her have a plan

[Bernadine]

Yay, more playing at politics at the expense of Federal workers.

[rubytue]

Gah! I really thought they learned a lesson in 2019.

You’d think after 20 years, I’d know better. (I hit 20 years this month… 10 to go)

[pumpkin]

UGH!! I’m not at all excited about a possible shutdown. In the past I’ve always been essential and it’s just such a PITA. I feel like we just go around incircles every few years at our expense and no one ever seems to care that it actually affects real people 🤦‍♀️

[curbsideprophet]

On the one hand, I feel like there is no way they will allow the gov to shut down in the middle of a pandemic. On the other hand, Mitch McConnell is still in charge of the Republicans in the Senate. He obviously does not give a fuck if the county burns to the grounds.

[ssmjlm]

I'm supposed to start a month long virtual class on Oct 4 that I have basically been waiting a few years to have the time to take.

DO NOT DO THIS TO ME. Also I'm essential, so yay working for free.

[womet]

Fuck Mitch McConnell. When the last president was in office and the debt ceiling needed to be raised, all Democrats voted for it. But when a Democratic president is in office, McConnell says no republicans will vote to raise the debt ceiling. Fuck him.

[jinkies]

I'm not usually a big Twitter person, but saw this thread this morning and thought it was pretty on the nose:

[aspentosh]

It never gets old feeling like a fucking pawn. Fuck McConnell.

[notreal]

Sept 21, 2021 22:21:48 GMT -5 curbsideprophet said:

On the one hand, I feel like there is no way they will allow the gov to shut down in the middle of a pandemic. On the other hand, Mitch McConnell is still in charge of the Republicans in the Senate. He obviously does not give a fuck if the county burns to the grounds.

Republicans have a remarkable way of finding ways to make "no way" happen.  I'd assume it's because of various deals with the devil.

Note: I am not making light (I work for the EPA,) I deal with my anxiety with dark humor

[rubytue]

Apparently I need a shutdown refresher. I seem to recall something passing after the 2019 crap that guaranteed paychecks. It’s after the fact though, right? So we still have to rely on savings during? And the essential people don’t have to hope that Congress takes pity on them?

I’ll just go ahead and admit that I’m one of the lucky ones. My agency is not considered essential (although, we got a ton of bad press for not doing something bc of covid shutdowns). And I have plenty of savings. And, if I am completely honest, myself and a few others are so burnt out right now.., forced sabbatical isn’t a bad thing mentally.

At the same time, I really want to stay sensitive and not be a jerk to those who aren’t in similar shoes. So please, check me on privileged and such if/when we get there and I’m tone deaf.

[seeyalater52]

Sept 22, 2021 8:05:25 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Apparently I need a shutdown refresher. I seem to recall something passing after the 2019 crap that guaranteed paychecks. It’s after the fact though, right? So we still have to rely on savings during? And the essential people don’t have to hope that Congress takes pity on them?

I’ll just go ahead and admit that I’m one of the lucky ones. My agency is not considered essential (although, we got a ton of bad press for not doing something bc of covid shutdowns). And I have plenty of savings. And, if I am completely honest, myself and a few others are so burnt out right now.., forced sabbatical isn’t a bad thing mentally.

At the same time, I really want to stay sensitive and not be a jerk to those who aren’t in similar shoes. So please, check me on privileged and such if/when we get there and I’m tone deaf.

I admit I'm not 100% sure (and full disclosure I'm not a fed) but there was a bill passed in 2019 that will ensure backpay for federal workers and from what I've seen since then, I think it applies to future shutdowns as well and wasn't limited to a specific instance. 

If that isn't the case I'd expect backpay to be authorized in some way, including potentially in the reconciliation package. At the end of the day that doesn't solve the horrible way that federal workers get caught up in this political nonsense, but hopefully I'm right and it at least alleviates some stress in the meantime. 

[rubytue]

Oh, I found the back pay stuff. I was 95% certain it was passed this way, too seeyalater52,

Salaries: Furloughed federal employees and workers who are deemed essential and forced to work during an appropriations lapse will not be paid for the duration of the shutdown, although all federal workers will be granted back pay once funding is restored. The back pay is guaranteed by a 2019 law signed by President Trump following the 35-day shutdown that year.

www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2020/12/guide-pay-and-benefits-during-shutdown/170826/

[candreco]

I'd bet on a short shutdown, like just Oct 1 and then they hammer out a CR over the weekend and we're all back to work on Oct 4.

We are guaranteed backpay (thank my congressman for that, I believe he was one of the authors of that bill), but it sucks for a lot of people to miss those paychecks until Congress gets its act together. We've got the savings to cover, but damn, DH and I are both feds so we'd be screwed if we didn't.

[melissa]

Sept 22, 2021 8:05:25 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Apparently I need a shutdown refresher. I seem to recall something passing after the 2019 crap that guaranteed paychecks. It’s after the fact though, right? So we still have to rely on savings during? And the essential people don’t have to hope that Congress takes pity on them?

I’ll just go ahead and admit that I’m one of the lucky ones. My agency is not considered essential (although, we got a ton of bad press for not doing something bc of covid shutdowns). And I have plenty of savings. And, if I am completely honest, myself and a few others are so burnt out right now.., forced sabbatical isn’t a bad thing mentally.

At the same time, I really want to stay sensitive and not be a jerk to those who aren’t in similar shoes. So please, check me on privileged and such if/when we get there and I’m tone deaf.

I'm right there with you on a couple days of forced sabbatical.

[pumpkin]

I’d love the couple days sabbatical, but I’ve been a Fed for over 12 years now and never been furloughed during a shutdown. 😢 I realize it’s a double-edged sword, but I would love a couple days to relax after the extreme chaos and push at the end of the FY! It’s insane!!

[candreco]

Sept 22, 2021 12:05:55 GMT -5 pumpkin said:

I’d love the couple days sabbatical, but I’ve been a Fed for over 12 years now and never been furloughed during a shutdown. 😢 I realize it’s a double-edged sword, but I would love a couple days to relax after the extreme chaos and push at the end of the FY! It’s insane!!

Yeah, I've been designated mission essential for all but a couple shutdowns over my 16 years.  I do always feel like we should get Oct 1 off regardless, it's like New Year's Day lol.

[Bernadine]

www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/us-elections-government/ny-congress-debt-ceiling-20210923-kspr5fbo2rc4bgcsgkmiprbequ-story.html

Democrats in the House will pass a bill not tied to the debt.

[rubytue]

www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/09/23/shutdown-congress-budget-debt-ceiling/?itid=hp-top-table-main

White House tells agencies to prepare for shutdown.

[pumpkin]

Sept 23, 2021 13:45:17 GMT -5 rubytue said:

www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/09/23/shutdown-congress-budget-debt-ceiling/?itid=hp-top-table-main

White House tells agencies to prepare for shutdown.

We had a meeting with our highest level of local management this morning and we’re basically told, “we don’t know what’s going to happen so we’ll address it when it does.” In response to a newer employee asking what it could look like for us. 🤦‍♀️

[ssmjlm]

I swear, if we shut down and this class gets cancelled I am going to be pissed.

I have the worst luck with any training opportunities. It's the office joke now.

[rubytue]

Sept 23, 2021 14:22:50 GMT -5 pumpkin said:

Sept 23, 2021 13:45:17 GMT -5 rubytue said:

www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/09/23/shutdown-congress-budget-debt-ceiling/?itid=hp-top-table-main

White House tells agencies to prepare for shutdown.

We had a meeting with our highest level of local management this morning and we’re basically told, “we don’t know what’s going to happen so we’ll address it when it does.” In response to a newer employee asking what it could look like for us. 🤦‍♀️

Yeah, that’s the attitude our management usually takes. On the one hand, I get it. It’s somethings not within their control. But, keeping your people at ease *is* within your control.

[womet]

Our part of my agency isn’t funded through appropriations, so we aren’t impacted. I sent an email to our staff today saying this so folks won’t worry. H would be impacted though.

[curbsideprophet]

We are typically furloughed during shutdowns. We had other funding during the last shutdown. I asked my supervisor if she had heard anything about our status and she said no, not yet. I will be okay either way but it would be nice to know what is happening if a shutdown does happen.

[pumpkin]

Sept 23, 2021 17:57:08 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Sept 23, 2021 14:22:50 GMT -5 pumpkin said:

We had a meeting with our highest level of local management this morning and we’re basically told, “we don’t know what’s going to happen so we’ll address it when it does.” In response to a newer employee asking what it could look like for us. 🤦‍♀️

Yeah, that’s the attitude our management usually takes. On the one hand, I get it. It’s somethings not within their control. But, keeping your people at ease *is* within your control.

Yeah, I just get super frustrated because our management is pushing and pushing and pushing work and production right now as we get to the end of the year, but can’t be bothered to say anything about what actually affects employees.

In past years the agency has had enough to keep operations as normal for at least a few days, and I’m sure he knows if that could be the case this time. Then again, with the last shutdowns we never hear anything ahead of time about prep or anticipations, it’s always day. I guess this is just indicative of some of my overall frustrations with management and the agency’s inability to communicate in general.

[rubytue]

pumpkin, my first thought was do we work at the same agency? 😂 But,Mae don’t have money to cover us for a few days, so, nah…

[pumpkin]

Sept 23, 2021 20:21:57 GMT -5 rubytue said:

pumpkin, my first thought was do we work at the same agency? 😂 But,Mae don’t have money to cover us for a few days, so, nah…

Hahaha, I’ve wondered this many times, but I think you’ve said a couple things over the years that have led me to think otherwise. But it is “nice” to have someone else understand the regular BS & frustrations. 😊

[Bernadine]

I just have to bitch- Republicans are so worried about my agency getting people back into the office, we’re getting Congressional letters all the time. Guess what, you fucking assholes- a shutdown won’t improve that.

[pumpkin]

Sept 28, 2021 8:40:18 GMT -5 Bernadine said:

I just have to bitch- Republicans are so worried about my agency getting people back into the office, we’re getting Congressional letters all the time. Guess what, you fucking assholes- a shutdown won’t improve that.

ugh! There is just a loss of any and all sense!