Civilian federal workers in Wyoming furloughed during the government shutdown say they’re stressed, angry and trying to help one another as their paychecks are cut, leaving them languishing in uncertainty.
As the shutdown entered its 17th day, two furloughed workers said they and their colleagues are asking one another whether refrigerators are stocked, whether counseling is needed and even whether their co-workers are low on cash. After one virtual group meeting, a worker for a federal land agency said she and others were told by supervisors to apply for unemployment benefits and offered mental health counseling.
“I think I could do six months,” Betty (not her real name) said of her financial situation. “I’m in a really lucky position.
“I have worked really hard to get to this point,” she said, asking for a pseudonym for fear of retribution by her agency. “All of my savings this year have been purely out of the fear something would happen to my job.”
The savings were intended for a down payment for a home or perhaps a vacation. But they’ve become insurance for shutdowns, something she dreads every October when budget showdowns occur.
For Veronica, (another pseudonym), her survival window is shorter. “I could go probably two months if I’m really strapping down,” she said.
“It’s been an abusive relationship since this administration came in, [saying] we are worthless.”
Federal employee “Veronica”
“A lot of us are, we are like ‘f*** it!’” she said. “It’s been an abusive relationship since this administration came in, [saying] we are worthless.”
Across Wyoming, 2.4% of the state’s civilian workforce is employed by the federal government, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center. Wyoming had 282,703 people in the civilian work pool, according to the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services.
That would put the estimated number of furloughed civilian federal workers in the state at close to 7,000.
Intense lifestyle choices
Betty said the shutdown’s two-week mark is the turning point at which employees will start missing a complete paycheck. Her last check was about $500 short because of the shutdown, “an amount I could adjust to.”
Now, however, she’s forced to make “intense lifestyle choices.”
“I’ve got a trip — travel plans coming up,” she said. “I’ll have to be pretty frugal. I’m not eating out with friends, changing the types of activities we do, [pursuing] my less-expensive hobbies.”
“I have a lot of friends who say, ‘Why don’t you just take a road trip,’” she said. But that costs money, and she’s still basically on-call to return to work.
“It feels like a really long weekend, but every day is Sunday and I might have to go back tomorrow,” she said. “It’s harder than I thought it would be.”
Veronica worries for families. “It’s super scary for people with kids,” she said.
They tell her they can’t pull their children from daycare for fear of losing a coveted slot. “There’s still a lot of money going out and none coming in.”
Colleagues who are supporting one another are asking, “Hey, what’s your fridge look like?” Veronica said. “We have full freezers but our bank accounts are low.
“Everybody’s strapped for cash right now, just to pay their bills,” she said. But none are expecting or asking for cash.
Some federal employees who are “essential workers” have to show up to work, which can entail spending money on gas. But they also don’t get a paycheck, she said.
There are several federal assistance programs available, including for counselling, the two women said. In Teton County, the community resource nonprofit One22 is offering $250 stipend gift cards to federal workers in need.
Recipients can spend the money at Smith’s on food, at the pharmacy or for gas. The application process requires proof of employment and other documentation.
“Things are going smoothly,” said Seadar Rose Davis, director of community engagement. The group had processed 113 applications by early afternoon Friday.
“I’ve talked to quite a few people,” she said. “They’ve been incredibly appreciative.
“They feel seen and feel valued,” she said. “I’m glad we can provide a small piece for them.”
The program will continue for 10 days after the shutdown ends, according to the One22 website.
‘Reduction in force’
Some employees are worried they might lose their jobs during the shutdown through a “reduction in force” initiative by President Donald Trump’s administration. “A furlough of more than 30 calendar days, or of more than 22 discontinuous work days, is also a RIF action,” the Office of Personnel Management states on its website.
A colleague of Veronica worried about a federal notice she and others received that indicated that after 30 days, “we can just get rid of you,” she said. There’s a fear that people might be fired even before then.
A federal judge, however, sided with employees Wednesday, issuing a temporary restraining order “enjoining shutdown-related RIFs.” She was ruling on a motion brought by the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees and others in a suit filed against the Office of Management and Budget and others.
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston also set an Oct. 28 hearing for an injunction. “If what plaintiffs allege is true, then the agencies’ actions in laying off thousands of public employees during a government shutdown — and in targeting for RIFs those programs that are perceived as favored by a particular political party — is the epitome of hasty, arbitrary and capricious decisionmaking,” her order reads.
The employees’ federation and other plaintiffs “are likely to prevail on the merits of their claims under the [Administrative Procedures Act],” the order reads.
Meantime, federal work is at a standstill, and some employees are quitting. Betty estimated that of her team of about 250 employees, 20-30 might be working.
“There’s one person in [Washington] D.C. doing the work of 250,” she said. “I did hear today we are losing people on a daily basis from our agency,” she said Wednesday. For them, “this is the last straw.”
“There were people who literally just quit,” Veronica added. “I know of at least three instances where that happened.”
About three or four people in her roughly 100-person agency in Wyoming are at work, she said. The ranks are down from 120 before DOGE firings and severance offers, she said.
Republicans blamed
Veronica doesn’t mince words when it comes to the question of who’s responsible for her situation.
“I blame this on the Republicans,” Veronica said, “and the fact that we are now sliding into an authoritarian government. I can see the writing on the wall.”
“If the shutdown ended tomorrow, we better have those health care subsidies,” she said, supporting Democrats’ argument that such aid must be part of any shutdown resolution. “I don’t want to pay an extra $150 [a month].”
Betty is trying to hang on.
“I have not thought of quitting,” she said. “I feel really tied to the mission of my agency.
“I didn’t leave from [severance] offers and scare tactics,” she said. “The shutdown is the most normal of the weird stuff that has happened this year.”
“I tend to blame the Republicans more,” Betty said. “I come from that with a bias. I support what the Democrats are doing — standing up for health care. That’s incredibly important to me.”
Most important to her is mutual support.
“If you weren’t able to prepare for this, there’s no shame in it,” she said of her colleagues in need. “Community’s the most important thing we have always, but especially now.”
No one wrote an article when I was furloughed for 5 or 6 years in a row; up to 6 months at a time. No one called to see if the fridge was full. ROF happens all the time, in all jobs at some point. 7,000 employees furloughed?? How many are still working??? No wonder the federal government is so far in debt. Getting laid off is never fun. It’s very stressful. But don’t we have to start cutting the fat somewhere?
Well stated, I know people in government jobs shutdown to parked ,I know people in the Oil 🛢️ field industry shutdown not parked, I know people in the construction industry shutdown, I know people in the Agriculture and Cattle industries shutdown and it’s all because Congress isn’t doing their jobs compently without outside interest. This to will pass so go get another way to survive and decide who in Congress is the problem
Only in government do furloughed workers get back pay when they are recalled.
My furloughed colleagues at a now defunct engineering company could only dream of such a benefit when they were recalled.
It is a sad state of affairs the the majority of the Democratic senators are refusing to continue the funding for so many while they refuse to negotiate with the republicans in good faith. The author attacks the current administration and republicans without acknowledging the mistakes of the past administration. I do believe that there is blame on both sides that got us to where we are at, but this shut down in the democrats lap. The Senate Demarcates need to approve the Clean Continuing Resolution that received bipartisan support in the house and start real negotiations with the republicans instead of all of this peacocking an the cost of so many federal workers.
I agree that the critical point is to negotiate “in good faith”. Unfortunately, that’s hard to come by these days. I also agree with the Democratic position that assured funding of the ACA is a good cause.
Trump tells the GOP how to vote. All Trump has to do is to back the assured funding of ACA, and the shutdown will end. I doubt Trump will do that, and we have to ask why not. Personally, I don’t think that the issue of Americans needing a stable health insurance program is something that Trump cares about.
Stop looking back n dredging up past administration’s. There’s room on both sides of this folly to accept responsibility. Truth, members of Congress have not passed a budget on time in 2 decades. That kind of lack of job responsibility needs to be addressed by both parties. Period!
Give me a break. GOP controls all of government and you blame the Dems. Get real. The only reason the government is shutdown is that Trump doesn’t want Epstein vote in Congress. It’s all about protecting the pedophile.
Great article Angus. It makes happy to see the furloughed employees helping each other. It makes sooo sad to see government workers not being paid while our tax money is being used to GIFT $40 BILLION with a B to Argentina. This is crazy and hurts our farmers. Argentina is providing soybeans to China during the tariff clown show and this will put some of our farmers out of business. As a person who has farmers in our family this is very upsetting.
I do feel sorry for the federal workers that did not vote for Trump, but those who did have no complaint. I just hope they all remember this during the midterm elections and in 2028.
It’s not just President Trump, it’s every single member of Congress. Politicians are so enamored with their political talking points, that they have forgotten how or why compromise is necessary. I really enjoy William Buffets 5 minute fix to getting the federal budget passed n balanced: “The rule: Pass a law that states any time the budget deficit exceeds 3% of the GDP, every sitting member of Congress becomes ineligible for reelection.” That might actually light some fire under some politicians butt!
I’m blaming this mess on both sides. They have divided our nation. We need to remember this come voting time. We also need to go out and vote instead of sitting on our hands.
Last time I checked, the house passed the bill, and Schumer shut it down because it didn’t have all the free money in it liberals wanted to waste. All you democrats need to support Fetterman and toss the rest of the flaming liberals. Those that think President Trump is authoritarian need to spend a month in Iran lol.
I don’t think that money spent on the American public is wasted money. Your tone might be different if your health care premiums were tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill. A little compassion goes a long way….just sayin’