Thread by @benrileysmith

**THREAD**

800,000 US government workers didn’t get paid this weekend because of the shutdown.

Here is one of their stories....

Victor Payes is a 29-year-old security guard at LAX, the main airport in LA. He screens passengers and checks bags for explosives. He’s been doing the job for a decade.

For the last 3 weeks he’s been doing his job as normal (10hr shifts, 4 days a week). He drives the 20 mins to work, keeps people safe, drives back. But because of the shutdown he’s not been getting paid.

A role like his has an average salary of around $40,000. This weekend was the first time he’s missed his pay cheque.

But the bills are still coming. His car loan and insurance are both due in the next 10 days ($500ish). February’s rent is not far behind.

Victor is a single parent. He rents a one-bed apartment and shares the bedroom with his two daughters Hailey (10) and Serena (7).

He’s tried to shield them from what’s going on but they’ve begun to figure it out...

Around a week ago Hailey offered to cut back spending. “I understand if there are certain things we shouldn’t pay for right now” she told her dad.

She is, to repeat, just 10. Imagine what it would feel like if your young daughter realised you weren’t getting paid + took pity.

Victor told his daughters everything would be ok. But he doesn’t know when he’s next getting paid and there is no end in sight.

Dems won’t budge on border wall cash. Trump won’t sign any bill to reopen gov without it. President has said shutdown could last months or even years.

Victor’s reluctant to assign blame (he’s a gov employee) but wants Washington to understand the real pain the shutdown is causing.

“My simple message is just consider the working families out there. Just help us out. Just let us do our work without any concerns and stresses.”

The longer it goes, the worse it gets. He says some of his colleagues at LAX are considering quitting unless they get paid soon.

(There have been reports of a spike in Transportation Security Admin agents calling in sick this week - and being warned with disciplinary action.)

Workers set to eventually be paid back for shifts when shutdown ends. (Congress has passed bill enacting that, Trump expected to sign.) But that doesn’t help cash flow problems. Some fear late payment fines or hits to their credit ratings.

Similar stories to Victor’s playing out across America.

Prison officers, border guards, government attorneys and taxmen. Workers at the Coast Guard, FBI, National Park Service and Nasa.

They’re the ones really bearing the brunt of this (historic) shutdown.

END

P.s. Full piece on chats with Victor and Antony Tseng - a 46-year-old environmental engineer sent home without pay - over here: telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/01/1…