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86 tweets,
12 min read
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Feds working unpaid: I will anonymously tweet out any reactions I get to Kudlow's assessment. DMs are open.
Furloughed fed: "I'm not working, but it's not volunteering. Volunteering is what Jose Andres and all are doing at the Food Kitchens or Food Bank. What Fed workers who are working with no pay are doing is what I would call SLAVE LABOR."
Unpaid fed: "Kudlow is full of shit. Don’t know a soul in the Embassy that isn’t completely embarrassed by Trump and humiliated in having to represent his policies. #FromAShitholeCountry"
"My husband and I are both feds. (My agency is funded, but he's been working ungodly hours for no pay since this thing started.) We both thought we could spend our whole careers as civil servants, and both of us are now reconsidering... (1/2)
"...Who wants to stay and work for an administration that is so blatantly hostile to you?" (2/2)
Furloughed fed: "Shit like this is why we moved the potted plant in front of the Trump portrait we're required to hang by the front door of the office."
Furloughed-but-excepted fed: "Kudlow’s remarks appear on target, with a notable exception. The allegiance is to the oath, which is to protect and defend the constitution. That includes the office of the President, but before Article I or Article II is 'We the people.'"
Unpaid fed: "This is how kings talk. Sat in on a federal ceremony yesterday. Half the folks weren’t getting paid. Indeed, some had picked up food from a shelter the day before..." (1/2)
"...we stood for the flag. We talked about honor and service. Then we went back to work. Not for Trump. Because we love our country, which I doubt Mr. Kudrow understands or appreciates." (2/2)
Unpaid fed: "Note to Kudlow: Plenty of people are also working because OPM just issued a vaguely threatening memo reminding agencies they can discipline unpaid excepted employees who fail to report to work by recording them as AWOL."
A quick note that if you're interested in the workforce-policy angles of the shutdown you could do worse than listen to the episode of #TheWeeds we recorded last week about this open.spotify.com/episode/4SvDW2…
"I'm a contractor, but the feds that I know who are working around-the-clock shifts are doing it because they're devoted to the public's safety. Unlike our illustrious president and his cronies, they are qualified for and devoted to their duties."
"A promise not to strike is on the same page as the oath of office. Working without pay is voluntary in the sense that people sign this form willingly but it’s…a stretch to call it 'volunteering.' opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill… "
"I’m a federal prosecutor. If we don’t show up, we’ll be disciplined when this is over (perhaps even fired). Trump is a world class idiot but what is truly disheartening is the lack of real public support..." (1/3)
"...This job used to be about public service but if you look around it’s clear most people just don’t care about us. A football player kneels and everyone loses their minds. Public servants don’t get paid while being compelled to work..." (2/3)
"...and they act like we should be grateful that (someday) we’ll get the backpay we’ve earned. I’ve already started to look for a new job." (3/3)
Funded fed: "I'm currently being paid, but I've received three emails from buddies at contractors with links to job postings and general words of encouragement/offers to 'end the uncertainty'."
Unpaid fed: "I've worked [here] for 9 years. Never talked about politics or the President in the office until this shutdown. It's historically been taboo. Now it is becoming a bitch fest about POTUS and his stupid wall..." (1/2)
"...Employees are bombarding my boss with news clips about pay and benefits, wanting her to confirm, which she of course can't, because she's as in the dark as the rest of us. We still are showing up to work due to the mission..." (2/3, sorry)
"...I can't speak for others, but I sure as hell am not doing this for our current President." (3/3)
Furloughed fed stationed overseas: "I'd like to volunteer to bloody his nose. I have no choice but to show up or risk being fired. Too close to retirement to take that risk."
Unpaid fed: "I serve because I love my country. I serve because I swore an oath to the constitution. That this White House is so vain to think my service is about them suggests they don’t feel the same way about either our country or the constitution."
"ATC, currently working 6 day weeks for no pay; my only allegiance is to my co-workers, if I don't show up, they're the ones that end up paying for it. We protect each other when the administration won't."
Furloughed fed: "I volunteer to stick my foot up Larry Kudlow’s ass."
"I showed up today to make sure funding continued on the life-saving project I manage. I'm working in spite of the president, not because of him."
I'm behind on fedvents, sorry, turning this into actual content for the website for which I work. Posting 1-2 from the inbox to tide you over.
Funded fed: "Plan to resign by Sep. Have been willing to tolerate frustrations of govt bureaucracy bc I love having a mission that serves the public interest rather than serving wealthy clients, but I’m not putting up with the incompetence of our elected leaders anymore..." (1/2)
"...I’m still young and have a lot of room for professional growth. (My metrics are among the highest in my office.) Oh, and I don’t do anything out of allegiance to POTUS. I walk into my office thru a separate entrance so I can avoid looking at his scowling photo." (2/2)
"I'm an unpaid fed and went on a business trip this week, unpaid, doing the government's business. Every minute that I work while not getting paid irks me just a little bit more..." (1/3)
"... I've been in the government for ten years now but am starting to think of getting out because one of the main benefits of government service is it's a steady paycheck in the service of my country. But 1) I'm now not getting paid and my country doesn't seem to care..." (2/3)
"...and 2) working for the incompetent fools in the Trump administration makes me want to vomit." (3/3)
Funded Fed in unfunded agency: "My unfunded colleagues worldwide put their lives on the line to help Americans in trouble. They don't do it for Trump or any President. Its because they want to make the US as good as it claims to be and an ethic of service."
Paid fed: "At this point if I were furloughed my savings would be gone, my kids would be out of their daycare and I'd have to look for another job. After a decade of service. Back pay doesn't fix that."
Funded fed: " I feel so guilty for even getting paid right now. Even though we are getting paid our proposed pay increases were frozen by Trump and insurance payments increased. Yet Pence and others will get a nice bump in pay when this is all over..." (1/2)
"....Feds are the whipping boys and girls of this administration. Trump, Ross and Kudlow have no idea. Screw them all." (2/2)
"I'm essential personnel working on promise of eventual pay. The absurdity of the notion that I am remotely complicit in my non-pay status is surpassed only by the notion that I do it because I respect Donald. I don't. None of us do."
Unpaid fed: "Fuck Trump. I have zero allegiance to him. I’m working to serve the public, as I took an oath to do so when taking this job and to support my fellow co-workers. There are hundreds of us in my agency working unpaid right now..." (1/2)
"... and while I’m proud to see how hard people are working to keep the public safe, it’s demoralizing. This is an abomination and it’s all on Trump and his Administration." (2/2)
Unpaid fed: "As a millennial, Kudlow can swallow his half-hearted praise and take our names out of his mouth. Unless he’s convincing Trump to put me back to work without making racism a part of the price, he can keep his pandering to himself. I won’t be part of his narrative."
Unpaid fed: "I wish I had something more eloquent to say. Sadly, I can only quote Henry Hill from Goodfellas. 'Fuck you, pay me.'"
(BTW there are some fedvents that I have not tweeted out yet but am including in the piece I have filed about this, so if you're wondering why I haven't tweeted yours out yet that might be why.)
Unpaid (working) fed: "I wanted a career in public service despite my deep law school debt bc I wanted that sense of service & purpose in my work. I already make significantly less than my counterparts in private practice..." (1/2)
"... But making zero & still trying to make student loan payments at nearly 40 years old just isn’t looking as appealing as it used to." (2/2)
An unpaid fed DMing from work: "The most frustrating part is that no one in our chain of command (including, and especially political appointees) is disavowing these sort of comments..." (1/2)
"... or indicating special appreciation for our work. (Also I run out of money on Feb. 5)." (2/2)
Unpaid contractor: "I am not outraged but mortified by what appears to be the sheer evil of guys like Kudlow.
I probably won't receive the money I'm owed but if I don't continue to produce, I won't get future work..." (1/2)
I probably won't receive the money I'm owed but if I don't continue to produce, I won't get future work..." (1/2)
"... I can't make rent, pay for utilities or maintain health insurance. I am not alone. People I work with will end up homeless. It's torture and Kudlow is just shrugging his shoulders." (2/2)
Unpaid fed: "I have zero allegiance to Trump. I do this work because I love being a public servant and the purpose and pride it gives me (or used to give me). There is so much work not being done and this will be a drag on morale and productivity for months if not years..." (1/2)
"...We could not have more clearly heard the message that the president doesn’t care about us or our work for the American people." (2/2)
"I'm currently working because we have some funding from other agencies but with each day I worry that they will come and tell us to go home without pay."
Unpaid working fed: "Across the board, most of us have lost all faith in this government, party not factoring in. But there's a level of resentment towards the president and McConnell that will never be repaired..." (1/2)
"...We come in because we have to, but also because we have integrity. It's quite the irony of being asked to push with integrity and patience when the leader has absolutely no integrity." (2/2)
"I'm a fed and have co-workers who had to return their children's Christmas presents for cash to pay their bills. My co-workers spend hours every day on Facebook sharing information about local businesses and food pantries that are offering us support..." (1/2)
"...We all took the same oath of office the President did when we became federal employees. 'Volunteering' my ass." (2/2)
Unpaid working fed: "I am not volunteering. I am working without pay because my work is critical to the safety of the American people..." (1/2)
"...I am an American so I pledge allegiance to this country and its founding principles, not a President that uses my dedication and dependability for his own personal vanity..." (2/3, sorry)
"...I don’t want recognition for my sacrifice, as I am not a veteran. I want pay for my job well done. Don’t use pity for me to redirect attention from your insensitive and incorrect comments. Boom." (3/3)
"I'm working unpaid but it's definitely not a choice, and it's not like I had a say in the matter, so it's pretty galling to see Trump thank federal employees for being hostages..." (1/2)
"... I work because I took an oath to defend the Constitution, DEFINITELY not out of loyalty to him. I've become convinced he is incapable of understanding what that means though. Him and all his lackeys carrying water for him on this can rot in hell." (2/2)
"I am a furloughed employee. I just finished school and got my first federal job. I didn’t do it to serve the president, I did it because it’s a good steady job where I know I am making a positive difference for the public..." (1/2)
"... I haven’t been working long enough to even have savings, I am lucky my fiancé (who is also furloughed) has enough saved. My heart breaks for those that aren’t as fortunate." (2/2)
Exempted (ie unpaid, working) fed: "I'll soon be interviewing for a private sector job w/ better pay and benefits, but doing it in secrecy. Gone are the days when I thought I would spend my entire career with the fed govt after this debacle..." (1/2)
"...Most of the forward-thinking, high performers are considering the same. All under age 35. Our office would be decimated if they all left." (2/2)
Furloughed fed: "I spent this morning volunteering at the Resource Center Chef Andrés set up that was handing out produce and goods like diapers..." (1/3)
"... A fellow federal employee came in and asked me whether she could get diapers for her baby without showing a birth certificate, because her baby was so young that she hadn’t received one yet..." (2/3)
"... I am furloughed but if called in to work without pay I would be doing so because it’s my pleasure to serve the American people. I have no respect for Donald Trump, who is a cheater and liar at work and at home." (3/3)
Exempted (unpaid) fed: "I left the military pursue civilian service. Yesterday I had to pay $2k for needed dental work that was put off due to shutdown. Tooth got infected and couldn't wait. Good thing I can't eat much bc I'm down to $800 in the bank to last me til ? ..." (1/3)
"...Working w/o pay just to keep the job I have isn't "selfless". The job was already in service to my country, for which I am glad/proud. This clusterfk is making it painful/difficult & in some cases dangerous to do our work..." (2/3)
"...The messaging out of ppl like Kudlow and Ross is either self-serving spin or dementia." (3/3)
Recalled fed: "at State, they called everyone back this week, having 'found' enough money to pay us. They’ve promised one two-week paycheck in the middle of February..." (1/2)
"...I’m supposed to retire in April after 20 years’ service, and it breaks my heart to be closing out my career in such a shoddy way. But I’m doing it for my country, not for this miserable excuse of a president." (2/2)
Contractor: "I’ve lost $6,600 from lack of work. I’m a contractor who won’t get backpay. I am terrified. I am trying to find other work but no one calls back. I can’t sleep. No one volunteered for this shit."
"Excepted fed for DEA. We are basically doing next to nothing as we have no money for deals, informants, travel. Lots of sitting around the office picking apart the insanity of a border wall to slow drugs. Morale in the crapper..." (1/2)
"...The only positive is the most MAGAs watching as everybody turns on the dear leader." (2/2)
"FED K9 handler. Working without pay to protect passengers. Not for fidelity to a President. I serve the people and swore an oath to the constitution, not a man. I’ll follow lawful orders but am loyal to my country."
"Currently paid (for now). Helping my subordinates, who aren’t so lucky, find ways to pay daily expenses. Once strong support of the President in my office has devolved into angry, confusion, and malice. People are pawning valuables to keep in their rentals."
Fed working without pay: "Kudlow is an idiot. I show up every day to do what I can to take care of my subordinates, not my superiors."
Fed toggling between furlough and unpaid work: "So if I don't respect Trump, can I go home?"
Excepted fed: "I did not pledge allegiance to Pres. Trump or even to Pres. Obama when I was sworn in, I did it to the constitution, not to a figure head. Our daily briefings have changed from what we can expect for the day, to what kind of assistance is available to us..." (1/2)
"...When I joined the gov, I never expected for a food bank to set up on property to distribute food so we can eat for the week." (2/2)
Furloughed fed: "As others have said, we swear an oath. Not to any president or administration, but to protect and defend the Constitution. Our loyalty is to our country and our mission. And THAT is why we show up."
Fed working unpaid: "I’m a new law grad and new govt employee: I’ve been furloughed for ¼ of my time with the govt. I’m living with my parents to save money so I can pay my state bar fees, rent, student loans, etc..." (1/2)
"...My situation is nowhere near the worst, but it still hurts. It’s unconscionable that anyone would shrug and say, 'they'll deal.'" (2/2)
Fed working unpaid: “To stress the seriousness of this situation: during the shutdown, I’ve made more money doing improv than working.”
(I'm going to have to take a dedicated block of time later today to post all the fedvents that have accumulated in my inbox, but that one demanded to be passed on immediately.)
