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Federal Workers Question the True Cost of the Shutdown
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Published in Politics and Government on Saturday, November 29th 2025 at 9:14 GMT by Daily Press- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Federal Workers Question the True Cost of the Shutdown
The Washington‑area daily paper released a feature on Monday, November 13 – the same day the federal government officially entered its third shutdown of the year – that probes how much the public and the politicians are really paying for a halt in federal services. The piece follows a thread of interviews, union statements, and data that suggest the “sacrifice” many voters talk about is far more complicated than the headline narrative of a mere inconvenience. Below is a distilled overview of the article’s main points, the context it offers, and the reactions it captures from the people at the front lines of the federal workforce.
1. A “Second‑Time” Shutdown with Fresh Stakes
The Daily Press opens by reminding readers that the last two shutdowns, in 2022 and 2023, each cost the economy roughly $3–4 billion in lost productivity and had a measurable impact on services ranging from national parks to the Department of Defense’s logistics. This third shutdown, triggered by a failure to pass a continuing resolution before the 2025 fiscal year deadline, has a new twist: more federal employees now live in a “sheltered” situation where they are paid for a month but cannot work.
A map graphic in the article shows that 18 agencies – from the Environmental Protection Agency to the Office of Personnel Management – are “furloughed,” with a total of about 1.4 million employees affected. The article explains that the federal workforce is roughly 2 million strong, so the percentage furloughed is unprecedented.
2. The Human Side: Interviewed Federal Workers
A large portion of the piece is devoted to on‑the‑ground voices. A line of interview questions runs through the article:
- “How have you managed financially during the shutdown?”
- “Do you feel your work is undervalued or taken for granted?”
- “Will you stay in a federal job after this crisis?”
The Daily Press reports that 72 % of the workers interviewed said the shutdown has caused them to lose their sense of security. Several employees, like 3 rd‑grade teacher‑turned‑federal clerk Maria Alvarez, described having to pay rent from a combination of savings and a temporary gig on the side, “just to keep the lights on.” Meanwhile, a senior analyst at the Department of Justice said that the shutdown “reminds us that we are not a backup crew; we are a crucial piece of national infrastructure.”
One striking quote from a TSA officer in San Francisco was, “We’re literally standing in the hallway, wearing our uniforms, and not getting paid until the next month.” The officer also highlighted that the agency’s security protocols are only minimally affected, but the broader public safety message is diluted.
3. Union Voices: The AFGE and the Push for “Permanent” Funding
The article links to the AFGE’s press release, which frames the shutdown as “the latest example of Congress’s failure to fund the federal workforce.” The union has called for “a permanent, stable budget that allows employees to plan for the future.” The Daily Press notes that AFGE’s leader, Linda Hayes, testified before a congressional hearing in early November, arguing that the “cost of the shutdown far outweighs the savings from furloughs.” She cites a recent analysis from the Congressional Budget Office that estimates each day of shutdown costs the federal government $200 million to $300 million in lost productivity and delayed services.
In addition to AFGE, the article also references the AFL‑CIO, which has joined the call for a “full‑time” budget, and notes that the coalition has gained traction among middle‑income workers who feel that the shutdown is unfairly borne by those who serve the public.
4. The Political Divide: Bipartisan Tensions Over Funding
While federal workers feel the pinch, the article also takes a look at the political side of the story. A diagram in the piece shows how the House of Representatives and Senate have both stalled on a continuing resolution that would cover essential services. According to the Daily Press, the Democratic majority in the House has been holding out for higher funding levels for the Department of Veterans Affairs and for a higher cap on the deficit, while the Republican Senate majority demands stricter oversight of defense spending.
The article cites a quote from Senator John Marquez (R‑TX), who said, “We can’t simply throw money at everything; we need to look at efficiency.” Meanwhile, Representative Lisa Thompson (D‑WA) argued that “we are not going to allow a federal workforce to be a bargaining chip in a political game.”
The piece also links to a previous article about a failed “deficit reduction plan” from last month, noting that it was the first time in the past five years that both chambers were deadlocked on the same piece of legislation.
5. Impact on Public Services: From Science to Security
The Daily Press examines how the shutdown has affected various public services. Some agencies are effectively offline: the National Science Foundation has delayed grant reviews, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s monitoring of the Gulf of Mexico’s fish stocks is on hold. On the security side, the article notes that although the TSA still keeps flights on schedule, the lack of full staffing has raised concerns about “increased risks for travelers.”
There’s also a link to a piece about the “National Park Service” shutting down its summer ranger programs. The article quotes a ranger supervisor who said that “we’re not closing the parks; we’re just not open for business.” In practice, that means less trail maintenance, fewer visitor guides, and a sharp decline in tourism revenue for nearby communities.
6. Economic and Long‑Term Consequences
Finally, the article discusses the broader economic implications. The Federal Reserve’s latest report is cited, indicating that federal shutdowns tend to create a “negative feedback loop” for the local economies that rely on federal contracts. The Daily Press quotes an economist, Dr. Kevin Liu, who notes that “the cumulative cost of these shutdowns could exceed $10 billion over five years, impacting not only the federal budget but also the small businesses that supply goods to federal agencies.”
There’s also a mention of a new study by the Brookings Institution, which predicts that the workforce’s morale and productivity could decline permanently if similar shutdowns occur again within a decade. The study found that employees who were furloughed for more than one month are likely to leave the federal sector for private employment, which could cause a “skills gap” in critical agencies.
7. Bottom Line
The Daily Press’ feature provides a nuanced, multi‑layered look at the current federal shutdown. While the headline may have been “shutdown,” the article shows that the real story is about workers’ personal sacrifices, unions’ political pressure, partisan gridlock, and the ripple effects on public services and the economy. It reminds readers that a “shut‑down” is not merely a bureaucratic pause; it is a crisis that feels at the desks, in the salaries, and in the daily lives of millions of Americans.
As the week wears on, the piece urges readers to stay informed and to consider the long‑term costs of a federal workforce that remains perpetually on the brink of furlough.
Read the Full Daily Press Article at:
[ https://www.dailypress.com/2025/11/13/federal-workers-question-shutdown-sacrifice/ ]
