WASHINGTON D.C. (ABC4 News)- Thousands of government employees are wondering when they’ll get their next paycheck as the partial government shutdown appears to have no end in sight.
Right now TSA workers, prison guards, and border patrol agents are all on the job, but due to the shutdown they’re working without a paycheck.
Jacque Simon is a director with the American Federation of Government Employees, the country’s largest government workers union.
She says as negotiations between lawmakers and the White House drag on, families of federal workers across the country don’t know if they’ll be able to pay their bills.
“It certainly feels like federal employees are simply pawns in an afterthought,” Simons said.
ABC4’s Washington D.C. Political Correspondent Mark Meredith asked President Trump on Friday if landlords should cut government workers a break.
“I would encourage them to be nice and easy,” he said. “We have a bigger subject we’re doing. It’s called the security of our nation, including terrorism please”
One indication the administration is digging in for the long haul—the White House announced it’s changing the rules so the IRS can pay tax refunds even if the agency remains officially closed through the tax season.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says President Trump alone is responsible for the shutdown.
“Whatever disputes there is about border security, we can debate those, but don’t shut the government down,” he said.
The president plans to make his case to the American people directly with a prime-time address to the nation Tuesday night.
